The Importance of Good Posture
America’s fascination with dieting and exercising has led to many forgetting the importance of good posture. It is important for both Kansas City women and their children in more ways than one. Healthy posture is important not only for the body, but also the mind. Research shows that sitting up straight, mouth-closed, and looking forward allows energy to move more easily through the nervous system, leading to more brainpower throughout the day and also easier breathing. Proper posture can also make you look slimmer by 3 to 5 pounds. Because clothes hang in a flattering way, your stomach appears flatter, and standing up straight makes you look taller and thinner.
Dr. Greg Thielman, a professor of physical therapy, recommends some simple steps to achieve better posture. First, assess your workstations to make sure that chairs provide adequate support. He also recommends exercising your thigh and abdominal muscles daily to maintain your strength for healthy posture. Buying supportive shoes that cover the top of the foot and also not carrying backpacks that weigh more than 20 pounds are other smart moves according to Thielman. He also says maintaining good posture not only contributes to good appearance, but also decreases abnormal wearing of joint surfaces, lessens stress on the ligaments of the spine, and prevents backache and muscular pain.
The Physical Therapy Association also offers some guidelines to maintaining posture:
- While standing, make sure your body is in a straight line from your ankles to your knees, hips, shoulders and ears.
- When walking or standing, shoulders and hips should be level and knees should face straight ahead.
- Use the back of a chair for support when sitting and keep your feet on the floor.
- Always sit up straight with your head up and avoid leaning forward.
The Health Benefits of a Massage
Research shows that not only does a massage feel nice, it also has a host of long-term benefits for local women. According to the Touch Research Institute (TRI) of the University of Miami School of Medicine, massages can help people to cope with premenstrual syndrome, alleviate stress, enhance attentiveness, give your immune system a boost, lower blood pressure and soothe pain. In terms of physical benefits, massages can help decrease inflammation, improve joint flexibility and help maintain good posture. Massages especially tailored for mothers and their babies are also growing in popularity. They can help premature babies gain weight, regulate women’s hormones and relieve pregnancy discomforts such as swelling and back pain. It is important to talk to your prenatal care provider to make sure to choose a safe body position and qualified massage therapist.
According to the TRI, studies show that massages can also help women with breast cancer. Massage therapy can reduce depression and anxiety as well as increase levels of dopamine, seratonin, natural killer (NK) cells and lymphocytes. The study’s authors say, "NK cells spontaneously destroy a wide variety of cancer and virus-infected cells and are involved in eliminating metastases. Lymphocytes are precursor cells of immunological function, as well as regulators and effectors of immunity." So next time you think twice about treating yourself to a massage, remember the long list of benefits it will have to your health in both the short run and the long run.
Kelly Nelson is an intern for KC Parent Magazine. She is studying Journalism and Spanish at the University of Missouri.