Is Poor Posture Contributing to Chronic Pain?

Has your neck developed a “crick” so that turning your head to one side is difficult? Perhaps your shoulder aches for no good reason. It might be your back that’s causing you to reach for the pain relievers. 

If you haven’t suffered a fall or sustained any other type of injury, your posture may be the reason that you’ve developed chronic pain. It’s time to visit an orthopedic specialist for your unexplained musculoskeletal pain. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon and pain management and regenerative medicine specialists at Urgently Ortho in Scottsdale, Arizona,  can get to its root cause and prescribe a treatment plan. 

The effect of poor posture on your musculoskeletal system

You may not think twice about lying on your couch while surfing the Internet on your computer. But poor posture habits like this one contribute to chronic pain. 

When you think of posture, you may think only of it in relation to when you’re standing. You likely remember your parents telling you to stand up straight. But other positions in which you place your body can also create stress on your muscles, joints, and the discs in your spinal cord when you don’t use correct posture. If the incorrect position becomes a habit, the whole musculoskeletal structure in that area of your body is damaged. 

Poor posture exacerbates arthritis, contributes to poor circulation, reduces energy, and can even affect your breathing. Following are some of the most common poor posture habits to avoid and details on how they affect your body. 

Hunching over at the computer 

You probably already know you’re not supposed to hunch your back and jut your neck out when you’re at the computer, but it’s easy to slip into that position. Over time, this position strains your back, abdominal, and core muscles and lessens their blood supply. You’ll develop a sore, stiff back. 

Sitting in bed or a soft chair and slouching backward while working on your laptop or reading

Do you have a habit of reading in bed or working on your laptop before you go to sleep? It’s easy to develop a poor posture habit this way. If you only use pillow support for your back while sitting up in bed, your back isn’t firmly supported. Your spine begins to bend. When the habit continues, it places too much pressure on your spinal discs, and you may end up with a very painful herniated disc. 

Lifting objects while bending from the waist 

Are you constantly bending over from your waist to weed the garden, pick up objects when you’re on a job, or pick up your children’s toys? If you use this incorrect posture frequently, you may develop a herniated disc in your lower back. 

To lift heavy objects,  

• Plant your feet squarely on solid ground hip width apart or wider 
• Bend your knees and hips only, not your waist 
• Keep your back straight, shoulders back, chest out
• Rise by slowly lifting your hips and knees upward
• Use an assist such as a dolly when needed

Lying on your stomach in bed and working on a laptop

Perhaps you have a habit of lying on your bed while propping up your arms and working on your laptop. This posture causes your back to arc backward too much, weakening your lower spinal cord. 

Call Urgently Ortho or book an appointment online today if you have unexplained chronic pain. Our musculoskeletal specialists are ready to promptly diagnose and treat your discomfort.