As a youth you were probably scolded by authority figures to sit up and/or stand up straight as you slunk around or slouched comfortably in your chair. Although it may have annoyed you to hear those words then, you were wise to listen, even if your parents and teachers weren't completely sure of all of the long-term effects of bad posture. Many have been surprised about how their seemingly normal habits have turned into needing chiropractic services and even surgery to relieve them of nearly unbearable discomfort and bodily issues.

Bad posture creates a bad habit; it may seem uncomfortable for some to sit or stand straight, when it should actually be uncomfortable to arch your spine unnaturally. Over time, with the help of gravity, your spine may become suspect to osteoporosis, which is the degeneration of bone mass in an older individual, and scoliosis, where your bones find it now nearly impossible to straighten without intensive chiropractic treatments and medicines.

It might also be surprising to learn that bad posture can even affect your blood pressure, breathing and digestive systems as well. Bad posture can begin to put pressure on your body's organs, making surgery necessary for an unfortunate individual. Essentially, good posture is very important because bad posture virtually causes your entire body to malfunction.

If you notice yourself carrying your body in an unnatural position (head held forward, shoulders drawing up towards your head, back bent, etc.) and you experience pain in attempting to remedy your posture, or experience general chronic neck and back pain, now is the time to seek consultation regarding chiropractic services to stop any long-term effects immediately in their tracks.

It might seem like it’s easy to correct, but habits that have been formed since childhood are hard to break. Make a conscious effort to check yourself for good posture when sitting at your desk or on your couch at home. Or, to put it another way, how’s your posture right now?

About the Author

Dr. Michael Berry, D.C. is the Director of Katella Chiropractic and Laser Center, a leading chiropractic wellness center in Orange County California. Katella Chiropractic and Laser Center successfully treats patients with sports injuries, arthritic joints, neuropathic pain syndromes, and back and neck pain using spinal adjustments, chiropractic massages and more. Dr. Michael Berry and his team also use low level laser therapy, which improves tissue repair and reduces pain and inflammation wherever the beam is applied.Google+