Poor posture often causes back pain, as unnatural body positions place unnecessary strain on the spine and the muscles that support it. Chiropractic care can improve back pain from poor posture through several professional techniques.
Read on for more information about how chiropractic can improve your posture from the leading back pain chiropractor in New York, Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care.
What Causes Bad Posture
Modern life involves a sedentary life for many of us. Posture problems don’t originate from being “lazy.” Many types of medical problems cause them. Leading causes of poor posture include:
- Injury that caused muscular damage and weakness
- Poor workspace ergonomics, including desk, chair, and computer screen positioning and materials
- Physical inactivity for any reason
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Obesity
- Wearing high-heeled shoes often
- Genetics
Posture Problems a Chiropractor Can Treat
Proper posture is critical to overall health and especially to eliminating back pain. Good posture involves a properly aligned back and neck, which is the primary focus of most chiropractic care.
Chiropractors can treat many physiological conditions that cause poor posture, including:
- Neck curvatures and misaligned lower and middle back vertebrae
- Unlevel pelvis and hips
- Kyphosis, also described as hunchback
- Scoliosis
- Forward head tilting (“texting neck”)
How Chiropractic Care Can Help with Posture Correction
Your chiropractor will develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and circumstances. Here are some of the therapeutic methods for improving posture chiropractors typically use.
Spinal Adjustments
A spinal adjustment is a procedure that involves the chiropractor applying controlled and measured force to targeted spinal joints to improve their physical function and motion. A chiropractor might use their hands or special instruments to apply force carefully to realign or move joints that are not functioning correctly. Adjustments can also involve gentle stretching of joints to improve their range of motion.
Spinal adjustments are often helpful in restoring function and motion to a patient’s back and neck, allowing for a more natural and healthy posture.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Your chiropractor might use soft tissue techniques like trigger point therapy or myofascial release to support proper muscular function and improve posture naturally. These techniques directly treat skeletal muscle immobility and pain.
Your chiropractor relaxes contracted muscles, stimulating healing and the stretching reflex and improving lymphatic and blood circulation in muscle tissue.
Exercises to Develop Flexibility and Strength
In addition to referring patients to physical therapy, a chiropractor may directly recommend exercises designed to target weak muscles and limited joints to restore flexibility and range of motion. These natural motions support proper natural body alignment and good posture.
Patient Education on Posture Techniques
Chiropractors often advise patients on important body movements in their daily lives that will support proper posture.
Chiropractors provide information about proper sitting, standing, and sleeping positions. They may discuss ergonomic aids like lumbar supports and well-designed chairs that improve sitting posture at a 90-degree angle. Your chiropractor may also recommend alternative workstation setups to improve posture.
What to Expect When Visiting a Chiropractor
When you first visit Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care, your chiropractor will begin by assessing the current condition of your spine and joints and discussing your medical history.
Your chiropractor will also test your range of motion to assess your mobility and identify joints or muscles that need targeted treatment. The physical examination will also include palpation, a hands-on approach that locates areas of misalignment or tension.
Some physical restrictions are immediately observable while others require imaging with X-rays or MRIs for proper assessment.
After the assessment, your chiropractor will recommend adjustments and movements that will promote a full range of motion, particularly if restrictions have interfered with proper nerve communication.
In addition to correcting your posture, your chiropractor will provide instructions on how to achieve and maintain good posture in your daily life outside of the office, which can relieve back pain caused by poor posture.
Your chiropractor will coordinate care with a physical therapist at Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care or your other physicians if necessary.
The process involves much more than the corrections your chiropractor can make directly. Your chiropractor’s advice and guidance will help you protect your posture and back health over the long term.
Contact Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care to Discuss Improving Your Posture
Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care treats patients across New York. Our daily mission is to provide complete and friendly customer service while delivering expert rehabilitation services. Whether the posture problems that are causing back pain or other issues stem from an accident, an old injury, or years of sitting at a desk, we can help you discover a path to natural healing and better overall health.
Doctors listed in our directory accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Call Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care today at (646) 737-6524 to make an appointment and begin your posture correction journey with our team!
FAQs About Back Pain From Poor Posture
These are some common questions our patients ask about posture correction and improving back pain.
Why Is Posture Important to a Healthy Back?
Posture is important to a healthy back because good posture naturally aligns body parts to reduce stress and strain. Poor posture can lead to changes over time in body structure caused by misalignments and imbalanced positions. Those problems lead to chronic back pain and many other adverse health effects.
Can Physical Therapy Also Help with Posture Correction?
Physical therapy can help with posture correction in multiple ways and is often used in conjunction with chiropractic alignments to help patients achieve long-term improvements. Properly designed and administered exercises in therapy and at home can be highly effective in training muscles to maintain healthy posture.
Does Back Pain From Poor Posture Lead to Other Problems?
Back pain from poor posture can lead to other problems, including headaches, difficulty breathing, poor digestion, and poor circulation. As the body tries to compensate for the problems and pain caused by poor posture, other major systems are directly affected.