Table of contents:
- What is good posture like?
- What happens if bad posture is left alone?
- 1. Causes neck, shoulder, and back pain
- 2. Reducing lung function
- 3. Inhibits blood circulation
- 4. Worsening depression and stress
- Come on, straighten up!
According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary, posture is the shape or state of the body. Good posture is important in human health, because without good posture, humans cannot be said to be physically healthy.
What is good posture like?
Good posture is characterized by bones that are properly aligned and where they are supposed to be and joints, muscles, and ligaments working their way. A normal spine has three natural curves, namely between the top of the spine and the neck, in the middle, and at the bottom. If the size of the indentation becomes larger or smaller, a person will begin to have problems standing and posture appears abnormal.
Image source: http://www.thephysiocompany.com/blog/stop-slouching-postural-dysfunction-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-bad-posture
In plain view, good posture can be seen from the way a person stands and sits. People with good posture will have a well-built build, but are not stiff, either standing or sitting. Unfortunately, not everyone can maintain good posture.
The posture that is initially upright will gradually change due to daily habits that unconsciously affect posture, such as carrying a bag that is too heavy, wearing shoes that do not fit the size, to the wrong body position when sitting, standing, and sleeping for an extended period long enough continuously.
What happens if bad posture is left alone?
Not only does it create a bad impression visually, bad posture can also affect a person's physical and mental health, some of which have the following long-term effects.
1. Causes neck, shoulder, and back pain
One of the most obvious negative effects that people with bad posture can experience is pain in several parts of the body around the spine. Postures that tend to slouch can cause pain or soreness in the neck, shoulders, and back because the muscles, especially the flexors and extensors, have to work harder to stabilize a bent spine. In his book, You 1.0: The Ultimate User's Guide for You, Dr. Matthew Kounkel, DC, an expert chiropractic, also states that more than 80% of neck and back problems are the result of muscle aches resulting from years of poor posture. The long-term effects of this poor posture can cause permanent changes in the shape of the shoulders and deterioration of the joints in the spine.
2. Reducing lung function
According to Dr. Rene Cailliet from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California, bending too often can actually cause a decrease in lung capacity by up to 30%. When a person bends down, the lung organs will be compressed smaller so that the volume of breathing air is reduced. Furthermore, the supply of oxygen through the blood throughout the body will decrease, which can be fatal to cells, tissues, and vital organs in the body. In addition, poor shoulder posture can also lead to chronic hyperventilation, which is characterized by a person breathing deeper and faster due to low oxygen content in the body.
3. Inhibits blood circulation
Posture plays a big role in the process of blood flow throughout the body. Bad posture will change the arrangement of the spine which can lead to narrowing of the blood vessels. Narrowing of the blood vessels around the spine can block blood supply to muscle cells, which also affects the supply of nutrients and oxygen. Sitting too long with your legs crossed can block blood flow, raise blood pressure, and cause it spider veins.
Blood pressure will be higher due to the amount of blood being pumped upward toward the heart - fortunately this is only temporary. However, for people who have a high risk of developing blood clots, it is advisable not to sit in a crossed leg position for a long time as this can increase the risk. deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In addition, blood circulation that is not smooth will also cause digestive problems, considering that blood flow has a big role in the human digestive process.
4. Worsening depression and stress
In 2012, a professor from San Francisco State University found that changing the position to be straighter can improve mood and one's energy level. During his survey, he instructed his 110 students to walk down the corridor in a bent position, then he instructed them to jump while crossing the corridor. For these students, walking hunched over reduced energy and experienced more depression than when they jumped.
In addition, in 2015, American Psychological Association published the results of an experiment on how posture affects stress. It turns out that people who sit upright have higher self-esteem, mood who are better off, and have less fear than in people in a sitting position that tends to 'slump'. In conclusion, these experts stated that bad posture when sitting causes a high level of stress in a person, and even has the potential to cause chronic stress. Research from Harvard also states that people with a hunched position have decreased testosterone levels by 10% and increased levels of the hormone cortisol by 15%, which causes a person to become stressed more easily.
Come on, straighten up!
There are still not many people who realize that bad posture can have a bad impact on the whole body, not only physically but also mentally. Many of them are also aware of the negative effects of bad posture, but take these things lightly and are reluctant to make changes. In fact, if allowed to go further, the effects caused by bad posture can lead to much more serious diseases. Therefore, posture must be corrected and maintained in order to remain in the position it should be.
