Proper posture is important to help your body function at optimum levels. Good posture promotes movement efficiency and endurance and contributes to an overall feeling of well-being. Erect posture contributes to good appearance by projecting poise, confidence, and ease.
Proper posture is also good prevention. If you have poor posture, your bones are not properly aligned and your muscles, joints, and ligaments take more strain than nature intended. This may cause fatigue, muscular strain, and, in later stages, back pain. Many individuals with chronic back pain can trace their problems to years of faulty postural habits. Poor posture can also affect the position and function of your internal organs, particularly those in the abdominal region.
Ergonomics is the science of arranging and adjusting your work environment to fit you and your body. Working at a computer or at any repetitive tasks can take a toll on your body. Sore muscles, headaches, eye strain, tension, back pain, and fatigue can result.
If you answer ‘yes’ to several of the following questions, you may need an ergonomic and/or postural evaluation:Are your eyes frequently tired at the end of the day?
- Are your neck and shoulders often stiff and sore?
- Do you ever feel back pain or discomfort in your back while working at your task?
- Do you feel tingling, numbness or pain in your forearm, wrists or hands?
- Do you get stomach aches or indigestion during the day?
- Are your legs often stiff and cramped, or do you have swelling and numbness in your ankles and feet?