Tips for Proper Posture

Sit up straight! Don’t slouch! If your mother ever shouted these commands at you, they probably didn’t stick, but they should have. Posture refers to the body’s alignment and positioning with the respect to the ever-present force of gravity. Good posture not only affects your physical body, it provides a boost for your emotional and mental well-being. By positioning the body correctly while sitting and standing, there is even pressure on the spine, its muscles and ligaments, leaving you to feel more pain-free. To help you stand tall and maintain good posture, Dr. Doug Forsstrom thought to share the following tips with you.

• Imagine that a string is attached to the top of your head and pulling you upwards. The idea is to keep your body in perfect alignment, maintaining the spine’s natural curvature, neck straight and shoulders parallel with the hips.


• To stand correctly, you should always keep your shoulders back and relaxed while pulling in your abdomen and keeping your feet about hip distance apart.


• Balance your weight evenly on both feet and try not to tilt your head forward, backward or sideways. Finally, you should always keep your legs straight, but your feet relaxed.

If you have questions about correct posture, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat as well as the services we provide at our office, visit www.forsstomchiropractic.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Doug Forsstrom at Forsstrom Chiropractic Center, PC in Centennial, CO, call 303-770-5666.

Proper Sleeping Posture

Sleeping is our body’s way of recharging and restoring. Believe it or not, bad sleep posture can prevent this process. At Forsstrom Chiropractic Center, PC of Centennial, CO, we want our patients to do everything they can to facilitate a healthy spine and a healthy life.

Back Sleepers

One of the most important parts of good sleep posture is your pillow. Back sleepers will want a thicker pillow that comfortably fills the space between the back of the head and the mattress. It should support the head so that the neck is in neutral position. This means the cervical spine (in the neck) is completely aligned with the rest of the spine. If there is a kink in the neck, nerve passages cannot send messages to and from the brain properly. It is also smart to place a pillow underneath the knees to take pressure off the lower back.

 

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers will also want a thicker pillow. It should fill the space between the ear and the mattress while keeping the cervical spine in line with the rest of the spine. Place a pillow between the knees to keep the hips from causing pressure on the spine.

 

Stomach Sleepers

Sleeping on the stomach is not a recommended position. It puts stress on the back in multiple areas and can result in a kink in the neck while sleeping and pain after waking up. However, for those who feel they can only sleep if they are on their stomach, choosing a very thin pillow or no pillow at all will help. This is so the neck is not bent upward at an awkward angle. Also, place a pillow under your pelvic region to take stress off of the rest of the back.

 

Making sure you are resting in a comfortable and neutral position will ensure your body can get the rest and replenishment it needs. To schedule an appointment with Forsstrom Chiropractic Center, PC, call our Centennial, CO office at (303) 770-5666 or visit our website, www.forsstromchiropractic.com.