We often hear that good posture is important for our health, and start to correct others if we notice someone with a bad posture resulting from long term habits. But many do not know how bad postures will impact our long-term health.

Common effects of bad posture:

• Headache, back, neck, and shoulder pain
• Sleep disturbances
• Poor digestion
• Poor circulation
• Misaligned spine

Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Having a good posture is more than just looking good.  Good posture helps us to carry out daily movements including standing in a queue, walking to work, sitting on your office chair and even lying down on your bed while placing the least strain on our muscles and nerves. By doing this:

• Muscles can work more efficiently, preventing muscle strain, muscle fatigue and even muscular pain
• Reduce stress on spinal joints and nerves, and minimizing the likelihood of injury
• Reduce the wear and tear of joint surfaces, especially during movement and weight-bearing exercises

Common bad posture habits include:

• Slouching in a chair
• Standing with a flat back
• Hunching your shoulders
• Leaning on one leg
• Looking down and gazing downwards on your phone for long hours
• Holding and answering your phone between your ear and your neck

There are a few ways to improve your posture, such as:

• Be mindful of your posture during everyday activities
• Switch positions while sitting
• Do gentle stretching exercise to help relieve muscle tension
• Do not cross your legs while sitting
• Stand straight, keep your shoulders back and feet apart while standing
• Lift heavy objects with an upright posture and bending at the knees and hips

We need to make sure that we hold our body the right way, whether moving or still, to prevent unnecessary pain and injuries. With a good posture, not only we will look better, we will feel better as well.