When it comes to posture, there’s no shortage of myths and misconceptions.

A healthy spine is essential for your overall health, and practicing good posture on a daily basis is one of the best things you can do for spine health. In a previous blog, our chiropractor in Santa Fe talked about why good posture matters. Although many of us realize that good posture is important, we are still largely in the dark where posture is concerned. That’s because there are many myths and misconceptions about bad posture that make it difficult to know which information to listen to, but luckily our chiropractor is here to help. Here are the top myths about posture debunked:

Myth #1. You have to sit (or stand) up straight in order to have good posture.

Believe it or not, sitting or standing up straight in order to accomplish proper alignment can actually do more harm than good. When you sit or stand up straight, it affixes your body in a position that doesn’t leave room for you to move. Posture isn’t about sitting up straight; it’s dynamic, and it requires movement.

Myth #2. If you slouch or slump, you have bad posture.

Most of us have been told all of our lives that slouching or slumping is bad posture, but it turns out, we’ve been given the wrong information. As we mentioned above, good posture is more about the ability to move than it is about sitting up straight, and slouching gives you the ability to change positions easily. Regardless of whether you slump or sit up straight, the key to good posture is to change positions frequently.

Myth #3. Good and bad posture means the same thing for everyone.

Many people believe that, regardless of who you are, good posture is always sitting up straight whereas bad posture is always slouching or slumping. That simply isn’t the case. We are all different, which means that “good posture” for you, won’t necessarily mean the same thing as “good posture” for someone else.

Myth #4. Attention and effort are required for good posture.

If you are like most people, you probably have a lot on your plate, and you simply don’t have time to focus on sitting up straight all day. Posture shouldn’t be a conscious effort. Additionally, many people think that good posture should require some effort on your part, but that is also just a myth. When you’re maintaining good posture, your body shouldn’t be uncomfortable or stiff.

As you can see, there are many myths and misconceptions about posture. Do you have questions or concerns? Schedule your appointment with our Santa Fe chiropractor today!