Do you think much about your posture as you go about your daily life?
Stand in front of a mirror in a comfortable stance. Are your shoulders sloped, does your stomach stick out and your back bow in?
There are a lot of people who cannot fully straighten up as they walk. You may see young adults whose heads are leaning forward from their torso, not aligned with it. This is because they spend too many hours on their phones with their heads tilted downward.
If you sit at a desk all day working on a computer without adequate postural support, you may develop a thoracic curve and rounded shoulders. If poor posture is maintained for long periods of time (weeks, months, years), tendinous tissue that previously permitted a good range of motion can shorten and impede movement.
Maintaining good posture throughout your daily life is key to being able to continue to do the things you love without impeded motion or pain. If you sit at a desk all day, see if you can get a desktop that allows you to sit or stand. After you get used to standing while you work, you will find that you have more energy in the afternoon, and you won’t need that afternoon coffee to keep you going!
Sitting on a stability ball will also help to maintain a strong core, which is a key element to good posture. Standing all day or sitting on a stability ball takes practice; you will need to slowly integrate this into your daily routine.
Doing exercises that strengthen the core, back, hamstrings and glutes will help to improve your posture. However, you cannot do these just once or twice a week and expect to see results. Practice good posture every day...and reap the benefits as you age!