The wall tells all… measure and correct your standing posture with these simple to follow tips.
There is a posture, a body alignment, that makes most sense. One that allows the body to be supported best with the least expenditure of bad stress energy; one that facilitates the greatest range of motion; the slowest progression of osteoarthritis; the lowest probability of injury due to sprains/strains; and the widest open passage for the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots.
Outwardly, it just looks like “good posture”.
And you can make a rough estimate as to how close you are to this “good posture” by using the wall.
From the standing position, stand with your back to the wall. Make certain your heels; rear end; shoulders; and head are touching the wall. This may already be presenting a challenge for you… and that’s OK. It will be easier for you to measure your progress.
Now check the space between your lower back and the wall. You should not be able to get more than a half a hand between the wall and your back. If you could drive a small vehicle through that space, you can decrease it by engaging your core… That is, pushing your belly button through to your spine; or decreasing the distance between the front of your lower ribs and the front of your pelvis.
If your middle back is too rounded, that is, hunched forward, it will make bringing your shoulders and head back to the wall a real chore. And perhaps right now, this is not even possible. Check out our video on “the middle back linchpin“ to get some ideas as to why and how to resolve this.
Remember, your neck can never come any further back than your shoulders… so, to get your head back, squeeze your shoulders backward first. You can check out our video on “shoulder and head retraction“ if you need some help.
Make certain your knees are soft, not bent, just unlocked… and your weight is forward in the balls of your feet, just in front of the midfoot.
Now, step away from the wall and maintain this positioning. You should be able to pick up your heels with no problem because your weight is positioned in the balls of your feet.
However weird this feels is the measure of how far you have to go to achieve a body alignment that manages gravity better and moves better.
That’s it! You now have a simple way to measure your posture progress… and good news – there are walls just about everywhere.
Remember, when your alignment is less than perfect and/or you have suffered recent injury, joints get stuck, soft tissues have memory for what doesn’t work, and we can help.
Contact us at new back chiropractic today. We can help you move better to feel better for life.
At New Back Chiropractic on the edge of Costa Mesa in Santa Ana California,
we are committed to helping you get fast and lasting relief from your back
pain and neck pain. We help you move better to feel better for life.
If you suffer from back pain and neck pain more than you would like, take these three simple steps to move better, feel better, and enjoy life better:
- Schedule: reserve a 30 minute consultation with the doctor.
- Discovery: receive an examination with any necessary digital x-rays to find a solution for lasting relief.
- Relief: start moving better and feeling better for life!
Dr. Jim Hall has served as a highly trained chiropractor in Orange County California for 30 years helping people like you get lasting relief from back pain and neck pain. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Hall to start moving better and feeling better today!
In addition to these exercises, chiropractic care from New Back Chiropractic in Santa Ana can help re-establish your middle back to a more flexible and stable place. The result is a body that moves better, feels better, and enjoys life better. Contact us today to set up your initial consultation and start feeling better today!
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