We sit in front of the computer all day long. And that’s not all. We sit incorrectly: hunched over, cross-legged. In a word, we do not follow the posture at all. Why is it dangerous?
All day long at the computer is my everyday life, and also very, very many people. This is how our day goes in the office, and in the evening you still have to hang out in social networks – how can a modern person be without them! And my friend also taught me not to waste time during long phone conversations: you clamp the receiver with your shoulder and continue to wash the dishes or cut the salad. Great: doing two things at once! Only from time to time I can not straighten up from back pain or suffer from headaches, and this, of course, affects my mood.
“Correct posture is important not only for physical well-being, but also for mental balance,” confirms psychotherapist Sammy Margot. – A person with good posture always maintains a straight, natural curve of the spine, whether they are standing, sitting or lying down. But our lifestyle does not contribute to this at all: many of us neglect sports, slouch at the table, and watch TV, lounging on the couch.
As a result, the muscles that are supposed to keep the spine upright weaken. And our health suffers from it. “With incorrect posture, diseases of the spine and internal organs develop, which receive less oxygen and nutrients,” explains osteopath Adam Dallison. – This impairs the flow of bile and intestinal motility, in other words, digestion in general, and often leads to apathy and lethargy. Sitting for long periods of time can contribute to high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, and a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Breathe deeply
Poor posture also affects our breathing. When we slouch, the chest cannot expand enough, and we take less deep breaths than if we were standing straight. “The lack of oxygen signals our body of danger, increasing the accumulated stress, the feeling of overwork,” says Sammy Margot. “This, in turn, can affect the quality of sleep.” “In our body, muscles consume the most energy,” adds Adam Dallison. “When we slouch, the muscles tense up twice as much, and this depletes our energy resources.” I know perfectly well: as soon as I realize that I am stooping and take the correct position – straighten my shoulders, straighten my back, pull in my stomach – and I begin to feel better and more confident. This effect is also supported by scientific research. University of San Francisco professor Eric Peper has experimentally shown that when we wander stooped, our mood drops, and vice versa, as soon as we straighten up and take an energetic step, our internal state also improves. Moreover, people with good posture are less likely to become depressed. “We tend to think that our mood affects our posture,” says Eric Peper. “In fact, the opposite is just as true!”
Pass the tests
- What physical form are you in?
7 steps to good posture
“You should sit so that the lower back closely touches the back of the chair, maintaining the lumbar curve,” recommends Sammy Margo. – Thus, excessive tension is removed from the spine. Feet should be placed in front of you, and not under the chair or on the cross of the chair.
“It is important not to sit still for more than 30 minutes,” advises Adam Dallison. – Every half an hour, get up for at least a couple of minutes, or even better, walk at least around the room. This will stretch the muscles of the body, and the blood will circulate better.
“Keep your back straight, relax your knees and squeeze your buttocks,” says Sammy Margot. – Imagine that there is a thread going up from your crown that pulls you up. This is how the posture should be when a person is walking or standing. In addition, it immediately adds a couple of centimeters of height. ”
This exercise can be done in any position – standing, sitting or lying down: tighten the abdominal muscles and try to pull it in as deep as possible, then slightly relax the press, but so that the tension is still felt a little, and stay in this position for as long as possible. According to Sammy Margo, this way you can strengthen the press and prevent back pain.
When we hold a laptop on our lap, our posture inevitably suffers, reminds Sammy Margot. Its screen should be at eye level. You can put several books under it, and if typing is inconvenient, it is better to use a remote keyboard and mouse.
Adam Dallison notes that over time, our brains get used to not noticing bad posture. But it is in our power to make a conscious decision – to track those moments when we slouch.
Check if the computer mouse is correctly positioned on the table. Adam Dallison explains: conventionally, if the monitor is in place of the plate, then the mouse should be in place of the knife and fork. The chair must be moved to the table so that we have no room to sit lounging. If you have to talk a lot on the phone at work, it is better to use headphones.
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