Poor posture not only affects your appearance and self confidence, but it also negatively impacts your health. Poor posture can cause neck pain, headaches, back pain, poor circulation, breathing difficulties, fatigue, shoulder tension, and early spine aging.
Thoracic kyphosis is an excessive curvature in the thoracic spine that leads to a rounded upper back. Common factors causing postural kyphosis include:
- Slouching when standing and sitting
- Working on a computer or laptop
- Looking down at your phone texting
- Carrying heavy bags or backpacks
- Repetitive jobs that require you to look down
- Breast development leading to insecurity, which causes shoulders to round
- Wearing high heels
Chiropractic care, which includes spinal adjustment or manipulative therapy of the thoracic spine or upper & mid-back area, in conjunction with postural exercises and stretches improves posture including a condition postural kyphosis.
Spinal adjustment or manipulative therapy increases joint mobility and improves muscle function, improve movement, and flexibility by decreasing muscle tightness.
In 2016, there was a study done at the University of Johannesburg to determine the effectiveness of either chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to the thoracic spine or stretch and strengthening exercises versus the combined treatment of chiropractic spinal manipulative
therapy
The study included 30 female subjects between the ages of 20 and 39 were chosen since women account for the majority of postural kyphosis cases. The women were divided into three groups:
Group 1 received chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy to the thoracic spine
Group 2 received chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy to the thoracic spine as well as stretching and strengthening exercises
Group 3 received only the stretching and strengthening exercises.
Group 1 received treatment 1x/week for 6 weeks.
Groups 2 & 3 received treatment 3x/week for 6 weeks.
All groups received postural advice on how to sit & stand properly.
Conclusion:
The study showed that all three groups protocols were effective. However, Group 2’s treatment protocol, consisting of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to the thoracic spine in combination with stretch and strengthening exercises had shown the best results with improving posture and yielded the best results.
Do you have poor posture? Are you dealing with any of the following:
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Poor circulation
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Shoulder tension
If you haven’t tried House Call Chiropractic, this maybe what you need to help you feel better.
Dr. Lee is a House Call Chiropractor who provides chiropractic care in the comfort of his client’s home, office, or workplace. His unconventional approach allows him to provide more hands on care for his client’s to help them get better faster. Gone are the days of wasting time driving to a brick & mortar office!
If you’re interested in seeing if House Call Chiropractic is right for you, please call for a free phone consultation.
