Having the right ergonomic furniture is an excellent step to living a healthy life without developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, to achieve the best results, an effort must be made on the individual’s part to maintain healthy habits. By this we don’t mean diet and exercising (even though they are excellent practices), but being conscious of your body’s posture and alignment for the sake of your nervous system.
You’ve Got A Lot Of Nerve
It seems like doctors are continuously harping on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), but the damage to your body actually goes deeper. The muscular and skeletal systems are extremely important, but the nervous system should be a person’s primary concern. Every cell, every thought, and every movement depends on it.
Your central nervous system is made up of two main parts: the brain and the spinal chord. The choices you make each day about your posture and movement can either keep your spine and spinal chord in good health, or they can lead to misalignment and potentially life-long damages.
Think of road traffic.
Each car has a place it has to get to. If the traffic moves smoothly, then everything will continue on perfectly. If there is a roadblock, then the cars will get backed up, take longer to get to where they need to go or even get into an accident. Keeping the vertebrae of your spine aligned will help to keep your entire body in balance because the messages sent through your nerves will be able to get to the correct places smoothly and efficiently. Should your body be off balance, or misaligned, the nerves cannot get those messages delivered smoothly. Eventually, they “make a U-turn,” sending the brain the message “something is wrong,” better known as pain or discomfort. Now imagine trying to drive straight through traffic or a roadblock even. You know it sounds crazy because it is. You will crash your car. The same thing happens to your body.
If you continuously try to working through the pain resulting from poor posture without fixing it, your body is literally going to crash. It starts with discomfort and can evolve to MSDs because when the body is misaligned stress is applied to the bones, muscles and nerves. Fortunately, the solution is simple to avoid this…
Sit Up Straight
When seated check to make sure your body is aligned in the following ways:
- Back: straight
- Feet: flat on the ground with thighs parallel to the floor
- Elbows: bent at 90°
- Wrists: straight
Check out this video to see how it’s done:
When standing:
- Put your shoulders back
- Lift your chin so your head so its weight doesn’t bring the spine into a curve. If you are walking, look forward instead of down.
- If you are standing at a desk, elbows should be at 90°.
Ways To Maintain Good Posture
- Check Yourself: Every so often think to yourself, “How am I standing/sitting?” If you are not in the optimal position, fix it. Becoming aware is the first step.
- Ergonomic Furniture: Purchasing ergonomic furniture is an excellent way to ensure that you maintain your body’s best posture throughout your workday. This is a relatively inexpensive investment to ensure life-long health, and with the many different companies and designs, Big Cat Solutions will easily help you find what works best for you.
- Chiropractor: Seeing a chiropractor on a weekly or monthly basis is a great way to ensure that your body is properly aligned. As a professional, a chiropractor understands the balance between the different bodily systems, especially how the musculoskeletal affects the nervous system, and will tailor his or her service to your unique needs.
- Alexander Technique: The Alexander Technique was designed to adjust the body’s movements to create daily healthy habits. Just as how typing can cause carpal tunnel and arthritis, repetitive movements of the larger muscle groups, and body overall can have negative effects, too. Training yourself to move effectively with this technique can do wonders for your posture and overall wellbeing.
- Yoga: As we’ve said, obtaining good posture is a conscious effort (at least at first), and yoga is all about being aware of your body. Yoga has 84 basic poses, many of which are excellent for back health and posture. Your instructor can guide you to find your best fit so you get the greatest benefits from your practice.
By incorporating these methods into your daily routine, you are taking the right steps to leading a healthy and pain free life. Have a standing appointment with your chiropractor, sign up for a weekly yoga class, and invest in an ergonomic chair for work.
