Poor posture can lead to serious health issues, and many Americans suffer from it due to long hours sitting at a desk or staring down at a phone. According to physical therapist Jeff Goff, negative effects of poor posture include chronic headaches, nerve pain, impaired mobility, and trouble breathing. It’s not necessarily the posture itself that’s bad, but the amount of time spent in that posture that causes problems.
Allison Rushton experienced the consequences of poor posture firsthand when she developed back pain during pregnancy. After giving birth, the pain worsened, leading to a herniated disc in her lower back. Through physical therapy, she was able to regain her strength and learned that movement is key to staying healthy. Daily exercises to keep her back strong have become a lifelong practice for her.
Goff recommends gentle muscle stretches, adjusting workstations, and taking breaks throughout the day to prevent poor posture-related issues. He emphasizes the importance of moving frequently and changing postures regularly to maintain good overall posture and health.