How Poor Posture Affects Your Health
No matter how many times your mother reminded you as a child, sitting up straight or standing up straight can be a challenge for most adults. This can be especially true when we work at a computer all day or tend to relax on the couch for a few hours at the end of a long day. If you have poor posture, it could be causing some health problems for you. Keep reading to learn more about how poor posture affects your health, including as a root cause of TMJ pain.
Issues that Poor Posture Can Cause
Poor posture doesn’t just cause pain; there are many other health conditions it can lead to. These include:
- TMJ disorders. Consistently poor posture can lead to back, neck, and shoulder strain, which can cause issues for the muscles that control your jaw. If you have jaw pain and also have poor posture, working on your posture can significantly help your symptoms.
- Incontinence. Poor posture promotes stress incontinence — when you leak a little urine if you laugh or cough. “Slouching increases abdominal pressure, which puts pressure on the bladder. The position also decreases the ability of the pelvic floor muscles to hold against that pressure,” notes Markowski, who specializes in helping people overcome bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor problems.
- Heartburn and slowed digestion. A slouched posture after a meal can trigger heartburn caused by acid reflux (when stomach acid squirts back up into the esophagus). “Slouching puts pressure on the abdomen, which can force stomach acid in the wrong direction,” explains Dr. Kyle Staller, a gastroenterologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
Managing Your Poor Posture
If you have poor posture, it can be difficult to correct on your own. You do so mindlessly, and it often takes someone from the outside—such as a spouse, family member, or coworker—to point it out to you. Luckily, there are some things you can do to manage your poor posture.
- Set an alarm for every 30 minutes on your phone to sit up straight and adjust your posture
- Use a standing desk instead of sitting for so many hours
- Stand up every 30 minutes or so
- Talk to a physical therapist
- Use posture correctors
- Do core-strengthening exercises
TMJ Symptoms from Poor Posture
Wondering if you are developing TMJ due to your poor posture? Here are some signs:
- You feel a lot of tension in your neck and shoulders
- Your jaw protrudes forward
- You tend to clench your jaw a lot while working or sleeping
- You experience frequent headaches
In many cases, poor posture isn’t the root cause of TMJ, but it can be what exacerbates it. If you experience TMJ pain, it is important to see a TMJ specialist as soon as possible. TMJ only worsens over time and does not get better on its own. We can help you live a life free of jaw pain and the conditions that poor posture will cause.
For more information, visit us at AdvancedSleepandTMJSolutions.com!
