May is Posture Awareness Month

Posture Awareness Month brings together thousands of doctors, therapists and trainers across the U.S. in response to the epidemic health consequences of poor posture.

The month-long awareness effort educates professionals and the public about the negative health consequences of bad posture, particularly related to modern technology and works to highlight resources and health information to correct these issues.

Posture affects how well a person lives. With 65 million people in the U.S. alone enduring back pain every year, posture related back problems are the third leading reason for all doctors visits. Lower back pain is the most common disability for people under age 45, causing lost productivity, inability to participate in normal activities and diminished enjoyment of life. Most people don't realize poor posture is a contributor to health problems and modern technology has only increased its occurrence.

"Sitting is a bent posture literally folding the torso over the pelvis. Texting locks the hands together, causing shoulders to roll inward. This combination means chronically tight back, neck and chest muscles. As we get older, gravity combines with muscle imbalances to make people feel and look older than they really are."

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