We all fall into a habit of having poor sitting postures. Slouching is often considered to be more comfortable, and the body naturally falls into this position but this puts you at risk of unnecessary back and neck pain. Sitting up straight with the correct posture has many benefits. They include a decreased risk of back strain, improved alertness and mental wellbeing.
Benefits of sitting straight
- Decreased strain. By improving your posture, the distribution of weight on your spine gets evened out and there is less pressure on your lower back and neck so sitting up straight decreases the risk of back and neck strain.
- Better circulation. By sitting up straight, your ribcage is no longer angled inwards and no longer compresses your internal organs. This makes it easier for blood to flow through your body and improves processes like digestion as there is more space for organs to function and sufficient blood flow to them.
- Mental health benefits. Sitting up straight makes you feel more alert and ready for the day ahead. It also improves concentration by allowing you to focus for longer periods of time. It also boosts self confidence as you are not in a weak slouching position.
- Improves breathing. Sitting straight will allow you to fill your lungs better than slouching does as they have more surface area available to fill. This also helps to improve alertness.
The correct way to sit involves keeping your feet flat on the floor, relaxing your shoulders but keeping them held back and distributing your weight equally on both your hips.
If you feel that physiotherapy can help you to improve your sitting position and alleviate back and neck strain, please contact Home Physio Group on 0330 335 1016 to talk to our team, or alternatively, please use the contact form on the website and we will reach out to you.