How Your Posture Affects Your Joint Health

How Slouching Hurts Your Spinal Health

Whether you spend time sitting at a desk or scrolling on your phone, we're all guilty of slouching from time to time. But did you know that this bad behavior can wreak havoc on your joint health?

Pinched Nerves

When you have bad posture, your spine is no longer in its natural alignment and causes additional pressure on the nerves surrounding your spine. This can result in a “pinched” nerve, which causes neck and back pain.

Pinched nerves are typically associated with the following sensations:

• Numbness
• Burning
• Tingling

Misaligned Spine

When your spine is in its natural position, your pelvis, ribcage, and skull are stacked on top of one another. This is the optimal alignment of your spine as it helps to distribute the weight of your body, allowing it to properly support you.

If you spend a majority of your time out of your spine’s natural alignment, there is additional stress added to your spine that can result in misalignment.

Spinal misalignment can cause the following symptoms:

• Frequent headaches
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Hip pain
• Fatigue
• Numbness and tingling in your extremities
• Changes in your walking pattern

More Frequent Headaches Due to Strain

When you have poor posture, this can place an increased strain on your upper back, shoulders, and neck. This can cause tension headaches and migraines, which are characterized by pressure at the back of your neck.

Primary and Specialty Care in Henry County

At Henry County Hospital, we’ve been providing compassionate healthcare since 1919. When it comes to primary and specialty care, each patient can expect individualized care that meets their needs. From education to emotional support, we focus on your individual health and wellness.