5 Ways to Check Your Posture (And Your Kids!)
October is Spinal Health Month. Is your spine healthy? Here are 5 ways you can quickly check your posture and your children's posture.
1) The Wall Test
Stand with your head, shoulder blades and bottom touching a wall, and your heels about 2 to 4 inches away from the wall. You should be able to comfortably keep your head against the wall with the rest of your back.
If you can't keep your head against the wall, this is called “forward head shift”. Looking down at our smartphones, homework, or computers are typical causes of this.
2) The Shoulder Test
Stand in front of a mirror and look at your shoulders. Is one higher than the other? You can also check your kids by placing a hand on each of their shoulders and comparing them.
If one shoulder is higher than the other, this could indicate that there is some abnormal curvature in the spine. Backpacks, purses, and repetitive movements at work are big culprits here.
3) The Hip Test
Stand in front of a mirror and place a hand on each hip. Is one lower than the other? You can also check your kids by placing a hand on their hips and comparing them.
If your hips are uneven, this is also an indicator of imbalance in your spine. It can also indicate some issues with the way you walk.
4) The Foot Test
While standing normally, take a look at your feet (or your kids' feet). Do they point in or out? If they do, this indicates an issue with the pelvis.
5) The Shoe Test
Take a look at your shoes and your kids' shoes. Are they wearing evenly? If not, there's a good chance you saw some uneven hips and shoulders as well. Again, take a look at purses and backpacks. Are they too heavy? Backpacks should never exceed 10% of a child's body weight and your purse should never exceed 5% of yours.
If you see any of these issues, it's important to get your spine evaluated by a doctor of chiropractic. All of these postural changes indicate lots of stress on your nervous system. It's especially crucial to have your kids checked out. Their spines are still growing and changing and now is the perfect time to address any problems that could be present.
Doctors of chiropractic are specifically trained to locate and correct any problem areas in your nervous system. Your nervous system runs every organ, muscle, and cell of your body. Your overall health depends on the health of your nervous system. Look for these 5 signs that your nervous system may be in trouble and act now!