You may not realize the dangerous effects of sitting. More specifically, sitting like a turtle. If turtle were sitting at a computer, it would look like you do hunched over your computer.
Turtle Neck Posture or Forward Head Posture is becoming increasingly common and could even be called Smart Phone Posture as it is the position we take often take as we scroll through our e-mails. And it is all too easy to start doing it, even when we know better.
As I write this, I am reminded to correct my posture!
This study shows the ill effects of turtling. The Effect of The Forward Head Posture on Postural Balance in Long Time Computer Based Worker (by Jung-Ho Kang, M.D., Rae-Young Park, M.D., Su-Jin Lee, M.D., Ja-Young Kim, M.D., Seo-Ra Yoon, M.D.,and Kwang-Ik Jung, M.D.)
The article concluded that Turtle Posture connected with long periods of computer work “…may contribute to some disturbance in the balance of healthy adults.”
This included possible chronic neck pain, but also “the thoracic spine and shoulder blade, possibly causing overall imbalance in the musculoskeletal system…These results could be applied to education programs regarding correct postures when working at a computer for extended periods of time.”
As chiropractors have long taught, the compression or subluxation of the spine creates problems up and down the nervous system. The compressed blood vessels of the shoulders can lead to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome with tingling, weakness and pain in the arms. The decreased lung capacity starves the body of oxygen. The nerves leading from the spine to the organs are compressed by bad posture, creating disease and discomfort in digestion and other functions.
Dr. Ryan Dopps adjusts his patients to remove the subluxations that are blocking the nervous system, over time gently helping to correct years of bad posture.
This Huffington Post video cleverly explains Turtle Posture, encouraging us to use Power Posture instead. <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSKV5IF8guM” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you are interested in how chiropractic can help you curb your turtling, call and schedule an appointment with Drs. Ryan or Denise Dopps at (316) 636-5550.