Sit up straight
Just yesterday I wrote about the ill effects slouching at your desk can have on your cognitive ability. Leaning over restricts blood flow from certain arteries to your brain, thus making it a bit more difficult for you to ... to ... to think clearly (sorry, I was a bit too hunched over).
As a follow-up, I thought you might want to know about a recent Cornell University study on poor posture and long-term back problems. According to the study, about 30 percent of all workplace injuries are back-related -- and in most cases they comes as the result of sitting improperly at a desk.
The types of injuries to result from poor posture do not occur overnight; sometimes they can take years before showing signs. However, take this other Cornell University study into consideration, revealing the potential for musculoskeletal damage one faces by working on a desktop computer, as opposed to a more adjustable work station. This particular study was actually done using middle school students, showing that risk of injury can start this early. Now, factor in all the years most kids will spend at desktop computers, and then add them to the number of years they will later spend at similar workstations as adults, and it becomes quite obvious how these injuries can occur.

On Monday, I graduated from my rehab stint. Physical therapy rehab, that is. There was no big ceremony or anything. Just me and my therapist reviewing my progress over the past five weeks. It was pretty enlightening, what we talked about, and I left the clinic feeling both successful and motivated.
I turns out I'm perfect at something. I'm perfect at having poor posture. Not only do my shoulders round forward -- likely the result of typing on the computer all the time -- but my back sways pretty good, my stomach pushes out, and I look a few inches shorter than I really am. I'm a pro at this stuff and am making no great progress at actually standing up as erect as I can. Old habits die hard.
Stand up straight! No, that's not my impression of a military drill sergeant or a parochial school nun; rather, it's sound advice that can benefit your
Hey moms, are you trying to lose that stubborn baby weight? Here's a tip: don't leave baby at home with dad or the babysitter the next time you go for a run.
I don't have good posture. The physical therapist charged with repairing my radiation-damaged arm told me so. She told me my shoulders round forward and so does my head. This makes my stomach stick out which in turn contributes to the obsession I have about my stomach which, well, sticks out.
We all know slouching is bad for the body, right? Did you know it's related to performance too? Yep. Slouch in your office chair and you won't just look like a slacker, says
Every time I go to yoga class, I am sort of amazed at all the different
Scientists in Britain think so. According to them,
The great thing about good posture is that it not only has health benefits, but it makes you look and feel more confident. Slouching is a common occurrence for a lot of people, especially those of us who spend our day in front of a computer screen. But it's a habit worth breaking!
Here's an interesting piece of news: According to
Raking leaves doesn't seem like the kind of activity that can put you in harms way. But if you do it wrong, you could end up pulling a muscle or putting your back out, and then you'll have to explain how you injured yourself and man, how embarrassing would that be?
I've heard before that babies and young children naturally possess good posture. They don't slump their shoulders or round their back when sitting or standing. My own family observations reveal a kindergartener and preschooler with picture-perfect posture, although lately I've seen their shoulders sag when I'm angry at them!
My grandma had osteoporosis. For her, it reared its ugly head in her back which became more and more rounded with each of her passing years. It caused her great pain. And it caused her to continually urge me to stand up straight and practice good posture -- which is important for young women like me who wish to maximize bone health. But even more critical for mostly Caucasian and Asian women is weight-bearing exercise and resistance training.











