Can Chronic Pain and Poor Balance be caused by Poor Posture?
The answer is a resounding YES! As we age, one of the main goals a person should have is to improve functional fitness and balance. This should be a goal at any age. And as a Certified Fitness/Health Professional (since 1990) working with the Active Aging Populations, I can tell you first-hand the price people pay for ignoring posture issues. Chronic pain, poor balance, falling, digestion issues, circulatory issues and joint pain can all be attributed to getting older but also can be symptoms of poor posture.
Ask yourself, do you suffer from one or more of the following?
- Lack of flexibility and normal range of motion (ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, etc.).
- Lack of strength and poor balance.
- Breathing issues. Difficulty taking full, deep breaths.
- Poor circulation.
- Poor digestion & issues with Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Fatigue, neckache, headache & dizziness.
- Jaw pain, known as TMJ
- Depression, lack of self-confidence.
The GOOD NEWS is you can improve your posture at any age! All it takes is information, corrective exercise and mindfulness. The best way to get started with improving your posture would be to find out how good or not so good your posture is. You can do this with a professional posture assessment. By taking a few minutes to learn what your current posture is, you can then create a plan to correct and improve your posture and improve your quality of life.