?Eat your vegetables before you get your dessert.?  ?Use a firm handshake.?  ?Stand up straight.?  How many times did you hear this well-intentioned advice from Mom as you grew up?  The funny thing is that those adages still ring true today for those who wish to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and professional success.  And yet we still struggle with the latter ? especially since we?ve grown so dependent on our electronic devices.
 
Proper posture is important.  Posture is defined primarily by back muscle tone ? which in turn, is influenced by a myriad of factors including testosterone levels in both men and women.  For postmenopausal women, estrogen also comes in play.  If hormonal levels are in balance, chances are muscle tone will be as well.
 
Also doctors who look for the root cause identified other culprits of less-than-perfect posture.  If you consume less than the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, for example, small fractures of vertebrae can occur when bending down.  Excessive weight can also cause posture changes, as can trauma to the back. Lack of estrogen can be the reason for bone loss and hence small vertebra fractures that can cause abnormal posture.
In addition, our overwhelming and ever-increasing use of electronic devices is a major contributing factor.  Think of how many times you slouch in your chair, hunch over your keyboard, or lean forward to better view the computer monitor.  Odds are if you?re doing any of the above, you have little-to-no lower back support, which may cause you to increase muscle tension without even realizing it.  If you?re like many of us, you may also cradle your phone handset to one side as you?re busy jotting down notes or inputting information into the computer.  And let?s not even talk about how often your head is lowered and neck is crunched as you feverishly respond to the latest message on your phone.  This position hasn?t been dubbed ?text neck? for nothing ? and since it?s been given a moniker, it?s much more common than we?d like to admit. 
 
What?s the best way to wise up and straighten up?  From a whole-body perspective, Dr. Kalitenko advocates attaining and maintaining a healthy weight by being physically active and consuming a nutritionally balanced diet of lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.  In addition, hormone balancing can help rectify off-kilter testosterone and/or estrogen levels.
 
Placing an emphasis on ergonomics in the workplace may also help:
 
Instead of slouching or leaning over at your desk, sit upright with your feet firmly placed on the floor and elbows at ninety-degree angles on your chair arms.
Take a five-minute break every hour.  Walk around the office, and then try some neck, chest, upper back and/or rear shoulder strengthening exercises to stretch out cramped muscles.
During your leisure time, take up yoga, Pilates, swimming or any form of rhythmic activity that naturally elongates and strengthens core muscles.
 
If you?d like to get the straight scoop from us on how a holistic approach to mind/body wellness can improve your stance and help alleviate posture-related aches and pains, schedule a consultation at either of his two New York City offices conveniently located in Brooklyn (718-382-9200) or Great Neck (516-467-0253). 
 
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Backpain/Pages/back-pain-and-common-posture-…
http://www.thephysiocompany.com/blog/stop-slouching-postural-dysfunctio…