Yes, there are! If you have to sit all day for work, which has become more and more common among occupations since the beginning of COVID-19, we understand that it can be difficult to maintain proper sitting posture and avoid slumping. However, sitting up straight is better for your overall health than you might realize!

Our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team explains why below.

What Does a Healthy Sitting Posture Look Like?

When you maintain a healthy sitting posture, the muscles surrounding the spine are balanced and support the body equally.

A great way to know if you are practicing good sitting posture is by examining the rest of your body. When you’re sitting, your feet should rest flat on the floor with even weight on both hips, your back should be mostly straight (you’ll have natural curves in your lumbar, thoracic and cervical areas), your shoulders should be back but relaxed and your ears should line up over your collarbones. It can be tough to remember all this, but it’s worth it to avoid dealing with the negative effects that we’ve listed below.

Negative Effects of Poor Posture

• Spine curvature
• Back pain
• Neck pain and headaches
• Poor sleep
• Disrupted digestion
• Lack of motivation

How Can I Get Better Posture?

The best way to change your poor posture habits is by constantly reminding yourself and correcting your slumping posture. This can be annoying, but practice makes perfect! Doing the work to reverse those bad habits will prolong the health of your spine, neck and back.

We’ve listed some additional good posture tips below.

Ways to Improve Posture When Sitting

• Switch sitting positions often.
• Make sure that your feet touch the floor or use a footrest.
• Relax your shoulders; they should not be rounded or pulled backward.
• Keep your elbows close to your body. They should be bent between 90 and 120 degrees.
• Make sure that your back is fully supported. Use a back pillow or other back support if your chair does not have a backrest that can support your lower back’s curve.
• Make sure that your thighs and hips are supported. You should have a well-padded seat, and your thighs and hips should be parallel to the floor.

If you have other posture-related questions or need general medical care, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team today!