6 Amazing Benefits Of Good Posture

6 Amazing Benefits Of Good Posture

Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

“Why Should I Care About My Posture To Find Pain Relief? ”

6 Amazing Benefits Of Good Posture

1. Constant exercise for your back and abdominals. Holding good posture takes effort and makes you use the muscles in your back and abdomen properly. 2. It greatly improves your breathing. Good posture makes room for your lungs to function at their best – rather than being compressed when you hold your body in a slouch. Good lung function has a healthy impact on all aspects of your body’s functions and helps to reduce pain. 3. It protects your organs, bones, joints and muscles. Holding correct posture reduces unnecessary strain and pressure on these body parts. Most neck and back problems develop from poor posture over time. 4. It prevents arthritis. With poor posture, unnatural pressure is placed on your joints, leading to wear and tear. This in turn can lead to arthritis. Good posture gives your joints the chance to function at their best. 5. It helps you use your muscles more efficiently. With your bones and joints in correct alignment, you are likely to feel more energetic since your body will require less energy to move about. 6. It can have a dramatic impact on the way you feel. When you hold yourself in good posture, rather than a slumped one, you send signals to your brain that makes you feel happier and more confident. It also changes the way that people see you – you’ll appear more confident and assertive. Making simple changes in your daily habits can improve your posture and reduce your pain. Postural restoration at Riverside Spine & Physical Medicine helps the body recruit the right muscles for the task at hand, improving pain restoring prior to function. Our experts have years of training in reducing back and neck pain associated from poor posture.

Did You Know?... “ Lumbar spinal stenosis, or the narrowing of the open spaces in your spine, can be treated just as successfully with physical therapy as with surgery - and with 15 percent fewer complications.” - Annals of Internal Medicine, April 2015

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“Still Don’t Believe Your Posture Contributes to Back Pain?” Your Spine’s Alignment Determines How Much Pain You Endure When your spine is not in proper alignment, the muscles, ligaments and joints are all under excessive strain, causing most episodes of back pain. The lower back supports most of the weight of the body and therefore is the most vulnerable to the effects of poor posture. Discs, which provide support between the spinal bones (vertebrae), are also affected from poor posture. However, with good posture, the spine is in proper alignment and the shock absorbing discs are not as subject to injury. Often with poor posture, the spine will become fixed in an abnormal position. This leads to the constriction of blood vessels and nerves over time. Furthermore, this causes problems with the joints, discs and muscles. It is important to take care of your spine. Good posture eliminates many of the health problems that can develop when the spine has an unhealthy posture. Since you performmany different movements and positions throughout the day (sitting, standing, bending, stooping, lying down, etc.) it is important to learn how to keep correct posture. Maintaining good posture during the day results in less back pain. When you correct bad posture habits, the new and improved movements tend to become more automatic and require very little effort to maintain. At Riverside Spine & Physical Medicine we train you on the best way to attain and hold your posture throughout the day. We help you relieve your back pain quickly while improving your posture for maximum, long term results! Discover how our therapists can improve your posture and relieve your back or neck pain, allowing you to live a happy, active and pain-free life.

If you experience any of the following call Riverside Spine & Physical Medicine to improve your posture today! Does your head jut forward? Is your head tilted to one side or the other? Are the spaces between your arms and sides unequal? Is one shoulder lower then the other? Are your shoulders drooped forward or pulled back? Is one hip higher then the other? Do either of your knees turn in or out? Do your ankles roll in so that your weight is on the inside of your feet? Is your chest sunken-in and your upper back rounded? Do you suffer from back or neck pain?

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PINPOINT THE EXACT CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN Gain your freedom from pain medication and avoid costly surgery!

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We provide state-of- the-art equipment for: • Chronic back pain relief. • Flexibility. • Improved activity. • More energy. • Pain relief from an old injury.

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Care enough to share how physical therapy helped you. Who do you know that could benefit from therapy? If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to Riverside Spine & Physical Medicine today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a Free Physical Therapy Consultation. Send them our way, they will thank you and so will we.

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Riverside Spine’s FAQ: Keeping Our Patients Informed

This month’s question: “ Is there anything else I can do to increase the effectiveness of my therapy?” Answer: Yes. We have teamed up with scientists that have found a positive increase of stem cell release with the use of specific supplements. We recommend not using any NSAIDs near or during the procedure, which may inhibit the inflammatory response we want for healing. We also recommend continuing your physical therapy.

There are various conditions that can affect the progress of stem cell therapy, some positively, others negatively. Patients undergoing stem cell therapy or platelet-rich plasma treatments are advised to minimize their intake of alcohol, as consumption tends to delay the body’s ability to release stem cells. On the other hand, some supplements can help stimulate cell output. Your Riverside Spine & Physical Medicine health advisor will walk you through other steps you can take to maximize the effectiveness of your therapy.

Best Of Clarksville 2016 Visit our website to review more FAQs at riversidespineandphysmed.com

Our very own staff member was awarded 2016 Best Chiropractor Winner in Clarksville.

This will be our 10th win in 15 years!

Call RiversideSpineToday! 931-542-9420

Will You Be Flying Soon?

TIPS FOR FLYING WITH BACK PAIN Here are a few things to think about when you must fly with back pain. Some of them may sound obvious but it is good to be mindful of the things that will put you in a position to have the best outcome possible on a flight.

Wear clothing that allows you to move freely . Do not wear anything constrictive or heavy. Try not to fall asleep. This can be difficult but it is better to stay awake and move than to fall asleep and be in an uncomfortable position which may aggravate your back pain. If you feel you may need to sleep take a headrest cushion with you and request additional pillows. When in your seat, use the pillows and take a lumbar support if you need to help you get in a more comfortable position. Airline seats were not designed for people with back pain but there is a lot you can do with blankets and pillows to put you in a good position to prevent pain. If it helps you, put your feet on a raised area to bring your knees and hips in a better alignment; you will need to experiment with this. Do ask for assistance. Do not try to struggle with putting luggage in the overhead bins. These tips will help you get to your work or vacation destination as comfortably as possible!

Drink lots of water on the flight. Particularly if you are taking back pain medication. It’s easy to get dehydrated at higher altitudes, especially if you have back pain and disc problems. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol as these will only dehydrate you further. Move around as much as possible and at least once an hour get out of your seat and walk up and down the aisles. If you are following a back care stretching and strengthening exercise system, then try to do some of these exercises. Do be courteous to other passengers. It should be possible to do the standing exercises without causing any inconvenience. More than likely, you can possibly use the galley if you request politely of the cabin crew at times when it is not too busy.

Image courtesy of pio3 / Shutterstock.com

Correct sitting posture at a work station: 1. Laptop or tablet should be at eye level.

a box or stool. This prevents increased strain on your legs. 4. Pull the chair in close to your keyboard- no reaching or leaning forward. 5. Take frequent breaks from sitting; be sure to stretch every 20-30 minutes to give your body a break from staying in one position.

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2. Wrists should be slightly higher than elbows or at same level so arms are relaxed. You may have to adjust the height of your chair to achieve this level. 3. Your feet should be touching the floor comfortably. If you cannot touch the floor, use

Exercise Essentials Try these exercises to help maintain healthy spine

Good Stretch To Improve Posture

Helps Back Pain

CHIN TUCK While sitting with good posture gently tuck chin in (nod yes). Repeat 8 times.

CORNER PECTORAL STRETCH Stand in corner, arms slightly above shoulder height and your elbows bent, forearms flat against the sides of the wall. Move chest towards the wall, feeling a stretch in the front of your chest. Repeat 5 times.

Not all exercises are appropriate for every person. Please consult with a healthcare provider before starting.

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Patient Success S P O T L I G H T

I can work more upright!

“I can work more upright and without back pain. When I first came in I walked hunched over a little. I tell people constantly about how much better my back is. Plus I was having bad issues with sciatica and that has also stopped. Everyone should check it out! I can’t believe I didn’t find out about Riverside Spine before. I plan on getting a maintenance plan when I’m done.” - S.M.

Call To Schedule Your Appointment Today! 931.542.9420

riversidespineandphysmed.com

riversidespineandphysmed.com

625 North Riverside Drive Clarksville, TN 37040 P: 931-542-9420

Dr. David M. Allen Chiropractor