Our health and well-being are influenced by many different factors in our lives, ranging from what we eat to how active we are, how much sleep we are getting to the activities that we take part in each day. One area of concern that has been gaining attention as of late is the discussion of our posture and the impact that our posture has on our overall health.
The American Posture Institute recently stated, “it’s no surprise that with the postural decline of society and with children spending more time seated in slumped postures than being outside playing, that there are serious side effects.” As experts continue to research and study the role our posture plays in a number of health situations, this concern grows!
In one study a total of 9,567 participants between the ages of 12 and 22 were monitored and asked to complete a questionnaire, allowing researchers to determine the potential connection between back pain and asthma. It was found that there was a positive correlation between lower back pain and several different health concerns such as asthma, headaches, and migraines.
In a similar study 2 years later for the ‘European Journal of Pediatrics,’ researchers found that patients who suffered from persistent asthma were more likely to demonstrate problems with their posture. This poor posture increased airway resistance, which I turn made it more difficult for them to breathe, compounding their asthma.
This problem isn’t just limited to those with asthma either! In fact, the Arthritis Disease Center reports that 50-80% of Americans will complain about back pain during their lifetime! The problem is wide spread, but the good news is that there is something you can do.
Fitness instructor Caroline Jordan released a video that would allow every American to work on improving their posture from the comfort of their own home. The video includes an 8-minute routine that includes exercises designed to combat the effects of poor posture and restore proper posture in our daily lives.