The Effects of Poor Posture
Poor posture causes your body to deal with a lot of stresses and strains. Prolonged exposure to these stresses, along with other factors, may cause pain, muscle disorders and spine problems. Awareness of proper ergonomics may prevent the unwanted effects of poor posture and subsequently lead to productive activities, for instance, at work or while studying.
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Definition
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Poor posture refers to a misalignment in the musculoskeletal structure of your body. Misaligned posture causes stress and misuse of your skeletal muscles and weight-bearing joints as your body adapt to changes. The symptoms of poor posture, according to the Better Health Channel, "include rounded shoulders, potbelly, back pain, body aches, muscle fatigue, headache and bent knees when standing or walking."
Pain
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Pain may occur in many areas, such as the neck and the back. Back pain, according to Healthfinder.gov, may be attributable to poor posture such as "not standing or sitting up straight." Furthermore, long hours of sleep in an uncomfortable position may strain the muscles around your neck and lead to the so-called "stiff neck."
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Joint & Muscle Disorders
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Poor posture, such as prolonged forward head posture when in front of the computer, may contribute to common joint and muscle disorders. According to the Health Encyclopedia of Florida Health Finder, "poor posture can also be an important factor in TMJ symptoms." TMJ means temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder. This muscle disorder is often associated with pain in the face, headache and earache.
Spine Problems
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Spine problems, as stated by Jeanne Markusic, MS PT in an article in the Spine Universe, result from "poor body mechanics," including improper bending and lifting, which cause abnormal stresses to your spine. Over time, abnormal spinal stress may lead to the degeneration of joints, ligaments and muscles.
Fatigue
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Fatigue occurs increasingly as you age. However, poor posture strains your muscles and bones, which contributes to the cause of fatigue. Weakness or feeling tired may hinder your daily routines because of poor concentration on work or a certain project. In addition, according to The University of Texas Health Science Center, "poor posture can affect the position and function of major organs." Improper positioning of the major organs of your body amplifies fatigue and may even lead to organ malfunction.
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