I was experiencing some neck pain, and went online in search of some at-home remedies. Of the remedies, posture was one of them which got me thinking: “Does posture really matter that much?”.

So will fixing my posture help with my neck pain and grant me numerous other benefits i see on these blogs?

  • FeelzGoodMan420@eviltoast.org
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    1 month ago

    Yes. Good posture promotes a healthy spine. If you’re putting pressure on your spine discs in weird ways 24/7 for years, you are more likely to have herniated discs and other muscularskeletal issues when you are older.

  • SpacePirate@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    So to correct one thing:

    Poor posture is a symptom of poor core strength, particularly, your rhomboids and lower back. If your muscles are both stronger and more flexible, they will literally pull your bones into the correct alignment, without any conscious thought towards sitting straighter.

    Start by taking a short walk once a day (free). A 100 day pushup challenge (free) or starting Yoga classes (can be free on YouTube, but in-person has several benefits, including having someone correcting your form, and some social structures to help provide extra motivation) would be a great next step. Longer term, maybe light weights and rows alongside using a treadmill or stationary bike.

    If you choose to look into weight training, “Starting strength” is a decent program by Mark Rippetoe that I would recommend.

    • LemmyRefugee@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Hi. Your post is interesting in general but when you say 100 pushups a day… is it really a challenge for a normal or even a fit person or is it just some random thing you found while browsing?

      • SpacePirate@lemmy.ml
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        1 month ago

        On day one, do one push up. Day two, two. Sounds a bit ridiculous, but it gradually builds difficulty.

        Crucially, it is not all in one sitting. On day 10, if needed, do five when you wake up, and five before bed.

        Break it up into something achievable. And if you miss a day, don’t sweat it. Again, the idea is to start to build, or rebuild strength and flexibility, the exercises themselves barely matter; you could do planks instead, for example.

        • LemmyRefugee@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Wow. Super hard. I may try it but I don’t think I can do more than 20 or 25, even spreading them in 5 repetitions.

      • Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Most people would have trouble doing 100 pushups at once. But this sounds more like doing push ups everyday for 100 days.

  • Diddlydee@feddit.uk
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    1 month ago

    As a 42 year old with regular recurring back issues, YES. Correct it while you’re young. It’s often too late when the issues begin to manifest.

  • RBWells@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Posture is so important for health, both as a practice and an indicator.

    As a practice, stacking your body up in a good position lets it work better and protects your joints.

    It is also an indication of strong enough muscles and bones, very weak people or those with osteoporosis often can’t achieve good posture.

    It’s also free, nothing to buy, a free intervention that can only benefit you, so why not practice it?

  • Sundial@lemm.ee
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    1 month ago

    It might not fix the neck pain depending on why you’re experiencing the pain. You should definitely give a shit about your posture though. Your spine is responsible for keeping your whole upper body upright (along with your abdominal muscles and some others). Neglecting and mistreating that is not a good idea long term.

    • GrammarPolice@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 month ago

      I guess i can see the logic. I think at this point, bad posture just feels like a natural and normal thing since 90% of people also have it.

      • Sundial@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        That’s why you see jokes about old people and their backs or memes that are like “Welcome to your 30s. Here’s some advil for your pain. Have a nice day.”

  • Mojave@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I’ve had DOGSHIT posture my whole life. Don’t really care about it. Otherwise very fit, active, and healthy.

    Now I have a bulging disk and a schmorl hernia in my spine. When that shit starts hurting, it’s genuinely paralyzing. Worse than breaking a bone, and the spine does not heal from that naturally.

    I don’t think you have to build a lifestyle around stretching, yoga, proper posture, and mobility exercises, but dear god do some little things to keep your knees, spine, and neck in working order

  • neidu2@feddit.nl
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    1 month ago

    Yes. I’ve always had a bit of a slouch. Looking like a bum is one thing, but when my back started aching as I turned 40, I figured something had to change.

    Now, when I walk down the street, I pretend my nipples are laser guns, and I pretend to shoot people in the head. It’s surprisingly effective.

  • BestBouclettes@jlai.lu
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    1 month ago

    Yes but not necessarily in the way you think. “Bad” posture is usually linked to weak muscles and lack of mobility/flexibility. If you strengthen/stretch your muscles and connective tissues, eventually it should help correct your posture.

  • SmoothIsFast@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Bad posture is also a symptom of a greater muscle imbalance or weakness, not necessarily something you should focus on changing on it’s own.

    I had very bad posture, but once I started going to the gym and strength training and built a more balanced base of strength, my posture improved greatly on it’s own. At least I have noticed significant difference.

    Hunched shoulders can be corrected somewhat just by exercising the back with pulling exercises like lat pulldowns, pullups, and rows.

    Lower back issues can be helped by training dead lifts, good form for that exercise is extremely important though.

    Of course you should also include some yoga and stretching in your routine too, that has numerous benefits. I would recommend getting a personal trainer if you’ve never been to the gym before to teach you to do exercises correctly until you’re comfortable on your own.