Poor Posture Treatment: A Spokane Valley WA Chiropractor's Perspective

How We Treat Poor Posture In Spokane Valley WA

Comprehensive Consultation, Exam, and X-Rays

Before we can begin treating someone with poor posture, we must first identify the root cause of the poor posture so we know where to begin which is why every new patient encounter at our Spokane Valley WA chiropractic office involves a comprehensive history to find out what has happened in the past and present along with lifestyle choices that may be causing imbalances in posture.

The next step would be a thorough exam consisting of postural and range of motion analysis, orthopedic and neurological testing, bilateral weight testing, spinal motion palpation, and if necessary, spinal x-rays to determine the exact location, extent of the damage, and formulate a custom careplan to help correct the postural imbalances.

Corrective Chiropractic Care In Spokane Valley WA For Poor Posture

Here at River City Chiropractic in Spokane Valley WA we specialize in spinal corrective care. Just a small percentage of chiropractors have this approach and training. When someone has repeated poor posture it can cause spinal misalignments, also known as subluxations, loss of the normal spinal curvature in the neck, uneven head/shoulders, or extra rounding in the upper back also known as a dowagers hump. Spinal subluxations can irritate the nerves resulting in pain, muscle tension, or other symptoms, along with restricting proper motion of the vertebrae which leads to spinal degeneration and further worsening posture.

Our goal at River City Chiropractic is to not only help people get relief from their symptoms, but also to correct their spine and posture so the issues don’t continue to come back through spinal adjustments and a comprehensive spinal exercise program performed in the office as well as at home.

Custom Therapeutic Exercise Program For Poor Posture

At River City Chiropractic we custom make a home exercise program and provide spinal homecare equipment that helps our patients get better and long-lasting results. Following a thorough exam/xray and report of findings our doctor at River City Chiropractic in Spokane Valley WA will create a home exercise plan that is specific to your posture and x-ray findings. With this program comes some special spinal rehab equipment to help our patients in Spokane Valley WA get better results, faster. We also have access to a database of 1000’s of stretches/exercises with videos that can be prescribed to our patients to help them with core stability or address any other muscle weakness or tightness concerns. These exercises are designed to help people get relief faster, hold adjustments longer, preventing further degeneration, balance the hips, restoring the natural curvature in the neck, and also eliminate the hump in the upper back.

Spinal Decompression Spokane Valley WA

Poor posture over time can lead to degenerating or bulged spinal discs. The spinal discs are the gel-like cushion between the vertebrae that enable the spine to bend and twist. However, due to loss of normal spinal curvature or improper movement of the spine the spinal discs can protrude or begin to breakdown which causes compression on the spinal cord and or nerves in the neck or low back, often resulting in pain, tension, or numbness and tingling.

Spinal surgery to treat disc problems can be very expensive and risky in the sense of potential complications as well as outcomes. A much safer and effective alternative is spinal decompression therapy, which works by gently stretching the spine relieving the pressure off the spinal discs and nerves. At River City Chiropractic in Spokane Valley WA we use the Back On Trac spinal decompression chair which assists in hydrating the discs, restoring normal spinal motion and curvature as well as adding in heat and vibration to relax any tight muscles for optimal results. The Back On Trac decompression chair has been a great addition to our Spokane Valley WA clinic helping our patients reverse the damage caused by poor posture over time.

Common Causes of Poor Posture in Spokane Valley WA

Sleep Position

On average we spend 1/3 of our life sleeping, so it would make sense that by sleeping for hours a day in poor posture or position that damage can add up over time. With each sleep position there are some pros and cons that can be argued, but generally sleeping on the stomach is the worst position to sleep in for your spine and posture because the added stress on the spine in the neck and lower back. The fetal position is also one of the most common sleep postures, and does have some benefits, but again when it comes to improving posture this is the same hunched position people spend all day long in at their computer so essentially making it more challenging to correct. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees or on your back are the best sleep positions for improving your posture.

Tech Neck

Today the average American spends between 2-4 hours per day looking down at their phone or some other handheld electronic device. The further you look down and your head goes forward with physics it increases the weight and load placed on the spine by up to 60lbs. This increased stress and load to the spine over time results in chronic poor posture and tension in the neck or shoulders, loss proper neck curvature, neck pain, headaches, or spinal disc problems. Here at River City Chiropractic in Spokane Valley WA we specialize in spinal corrective care and help are patients reverse the detrimental effects of tech neck by correcting postural issues and restoring the proper curvature back to the neck.

Work Ergonomics

More Americans are working from home than ever before and working more on computers than was the case years ago, which if done incorrectly will be a major detriment to your posture. Sitting is now being called the new smoking because the impact it can play on one’s health is about the same or worse as smoking, so it is best to have a standing desk to minimize the amount of time you spend sitting during the day. Next making sure the monitor is at eye level and keyboard at a level so your arms are at 90 degrees. Having your monitor and keyboard set too low results in more slouching and the dreaded hunchback along with loss of the natural curve in the neck.