Understanding the Relationship between Proper Posture and Pain Causes
Patients often ask me about the correct posture when they meet me. It’s surprising that we have not been taught proper posture during our more than 12 years of compulsory education. Pain can be caused by internal factors like muscle fatigue due to incorrect posture and external factors caused by external influences. In this article, I’ll explain pain caused by internal factors.
The torso can be divided into cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. The cervical and lumbar vertebrae form a ‘C’ shape when viewed from the side and go down in a straight line when viewed from the back. Maintaining this shape while standing and sitting is crucial to maintaining the correct posture.
When standing, maintain an upright posture without extending the shoulders and chest and without protruding the chin forward. When sitting, press your hips against the backrest and keep your shoulders and chest wide open to form a ‘C’ shape with the lumbar spine. Be mindful of keeping your neck straight while looking at a book or monitor screen.
Sleeping posture is crucial since we maintain it for long periods. Use a pillow that maintains the correct posture for the cervical spine, spine, and lumbar spine. Choose a pillow that fits your body to avoid affecting the cervical spine. Constantly working hard to correct bad posture habits is important to eliminate chronic pain. General pain treatment cannot correct bad posture, and your efforts are the key to recovering.