My answer is usually: "that was the straw that broke the camel's back." There has likely been an ongoing impairment that over time has done some wear and tear on your body until it eventually breaks.
Correct posture is a straight line along the side of your body going through your ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. Often, there is a mal-alignment along the way. Pictured above are the most common types of posture. Picture A is perfect posture. Picture B has too much curvature of the spine, and the person stands like a toddler, chest out and hips back. Picture C is when the upper back is hunched over, common in people who sit at a desk all day. Picture D is when the chest is too far out with increased pressure on the low back, commonly known as military posture. Take a look in the mirror and see which one you resemble most.
Poor posture can lead to multiple orthopedic problems. Some dysfunctions that people don't think of are: migraines, low back pain, shoulder impingement, rotator cuff dysfunction, pelvic floor dysfunction, meniscus tears, and sprained ankles... The list can go on forever. You can proactively prevent all of these.
Now let's be realistic; everyone struggles with posture, me included. Your core must be strong to maintain proper posture all day. Keep in mind your "core" is not what the infomercials are telling you; it is made up of deep, stabilizing muscles, not your six-pack muscles. When you are hunched over, these muscles are turned off and become weak. Doing a few crunches is not going to counteract 8-10 hours of sitting at your desk.
How do you remember not to slouch? Set timers, use mirrors, get a buddy to remind you, use tape, or do anything that works for you. Here at the clinic, there are a couple therapists (they will remain unnamed) that love to jam their fingers into my back when I slouch. Via psychology, fear, whatever you want to call it, you bet I have great posture when they walk by. Now, that's what I call a true friend.
Please feel free to email, call, or come in to the clinic for more information.
If you would like to come in for an assessment, please call our front desk.
