Physiotherapy For Posture Correction

Meet with the best posture correction and training physiotherapists in Langley, British Columbia

In Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Opal Physiotherapy employs physiotherapists who can help people fix their posture and address underlying health problems. Our physiotherapist will work with you to determine what caused your bad posture and how bad it is. They will then make a physical therapy treatment plan just for you.

Why Posture Correction?

Incorrect postures have become a huge issue that affects many people. It can cause pain, headaches, reduced focus and concentration and the inability to perform daily activities efficiently. The situation is only worsening with increased prolonged sitting postures and a reduced active lifestyle.

In addition, recent advances in technology have led to the population struggling with more pain and dysfunction. This is due to prolonged periods spent glued to screens, desk work or holding their phone or mobile device, leading to poor posture.

Postural Correction Using Manual Therapy

The goal of posture correction treatment is to restore your muscle group from any imbalances leading to pain symptoms. We use a manual therapy approach and exercises to help reduce pain, increase joint mobility or flexibility, and improve posture and alignment.

• Poor posture usually stems from a combination:
• lack of strength in key postural muscles
• Muscle imbalance
• Reduced endurance in muscles
• overactivity in other muscles.

Poor posture from prolonged periods of sitting or standing can lead to pain and dysfunction. Issues such as these may make day-to-day activities more difficult and are more likely to worsen over time.

Postural Retraining

At Opal Physiotherapy, we can treat pain related to postural issues by providing postural retraining with awareness, lifestyle modifications, education, exercises, manual therapy, taping techniques etc.

We provide specific exercise programs to gain strength and endurance in key muscle groups that can help improve long-term outcomes. We can also provide advice on ergonomics, which can help you improve your posture at work and at home.

We use posture correction techniques to improve joint and muscle mobilization, breathing exercises, and sustained or dynamic stretching positions appropriate for every condition. Following the session, the therapist will also provide a home exercise program to help maintain and improve your posture.

Physiotherapy-based postural rehabilitation treatment is appropriate for all ages, from young to seniors. A personalized treatment plan will help you achieve the best results. For example, if you think you have poor posture and increased pain when sitting or standing prolonged, you will benefit from a full postural assessment.

Having an optimal posture using posture correction will help you improve pain and perform better with your function.

Some Postural problems that are usually identified and treated with physiotherapy include:

Forward head posture commonly causes headaches and neck and shoulder pain. It can result from prolonged periods spent sitting at desks, computers, driving or looking at your phone. It can also be caused by carrying heavy bags or purses on one side of the body. It usually causes muscle tightness and weakness.

Kypholordosis is when the vertebrae are asymmetrical and have lost their average height. Kypholordosis is typically caused by excessive curvature of the spine in one direction in the upper and lower back and can also be caused by disease or injury. In addition, this posture can cause weakness in the neck, abdominal muscles, buttock muscles and tightness to hip muscles.

Kyphosis is an exaggerated or excessive curvature of your upper and mid-back. Kyphosis can happen for many reasons, including muscle imbalances and poor posture. To fix kyphosis, a person must strengthen their back muscles and stretch anterior muscles to reverse the curve using postural retraining.

Lordosis is a forward curvature of the spine in the lower back. It is a posture that is characterized by an exaggerated arching in the back with an increase in a pelvic tilt. It can be caused by issues in the hip joints, sacroiliac joint, and spine. In addition, lordosis may occur due to muscle atrophy or lack of exercise. Lordosis is more visible in a normal standing position. The posterior iliac crest and the sacral area are most commonly affected by lordosis.

Forward rounded shoulders are a postural adjustment that occurs when someone slouches for a longer duration. It is often seen in young adolescents due to a lack of bone development and muscle strength. The most common postural condition is caused by restricted movement in the scapula and the inability to maintain proper posture, from doing repetitive tasks such as typing or using a computer mouse, repetitive reaching, and after an injury to the shoulder joint causing neck, back and shoulder pain. The muscles around the chest and neck can become tight and need to be stretched.

Flatback is when the spine’s normal curvature is lost, causing the spine to be flat. These problems may arise due to weakness in the hip, back muscles and tight hamstring muscles.

Sway Back posture: In a swayback posture, your body weight shifts to the back of your hips, causing the lower spine and buttock muscles to lose strength. The most common causes are weak core muscles, a sedentary lifestyle, and chronic bad habits such as sitting.

Leg Length Discrepancies: The difference in leg lengths can happen when one leg is shorter than the other leg due to uneven weight distribution, can cause back pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain. Additionally, people with a difference in height between their legs are more susceptible to injuries.

A true leg length discrepancy can be a result of disparity in bones. Apparent leg length difference can be from a shortening of muscle tissues and joints, making the leg seem shorter.

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is twisted and curved to the side. As a result, scoliosis causes the spinal column to be crooked or uneven, leading to muscle weakness and other complications on one side of the body. Scoliosis can be caused by numerous things such as genetic conditions, abnormal growth, injury or illness and can be retrained and corrected at earlier stages.

Posture Correction Exercises:

Posture Correction Exercises (PCE)are commonly prescribed in physiotherapy to rehabilitate the spine. Exercises are performed in a supervised setting or at home and are prescribed to patients after having identified postural issues, undergone spinal surgery, or sustained a back injury. They’re designed to help restore the spine’s natural curves and encourage healthy alignment.

Exercises for posture correction can also include strength, flexibility and balance re-training programs. In addition, core muscle strength and cardio training are also very advantageous.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a good posture matter?

Good posture is vital for both physical and mental health. When you have an optimal posture, you are more likely to have an increase in energy levels, improved circulation, and increased confidence.

There are a number of things that can affect your posture, including your environment, body type, activities and even the way you sit. However, an optimal posture is important as it will help you maintain a healthy spine and reduce back pain and other injuries.

What is a healthy posture?

The first thing that we need to understand is what a healthy posture actually is. The definition of a healthy posture is a position in which the head, neck, spine, and pelvis are in a straight line’. This means that your head should be aligned with your spine and not tilted forward or backwards. Your shoulders should also be relaxed and not hunched up around your ears.

But remember, the optimal posture is always to refrain from prolonged postures and to keep frequently changing your positions and postures, which is more ideal and a healthier option.

Who can help you achieve good posture?

In order to improve your posture, it is important to start by identifying what may be causing any postural issues that you might be experiencing. There are a number of professionals who can help you out with your postural correction: physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, massage therapists, etc.

What are the effects of bad posture?

Bad posture can cause a number of physical and mental health issues. Some of the most common effects include:

• Chronic pain
• Tight and weak muscles
• Headaches
• Neck or shoulder pain
• Back pain
• Hip Pain
• Nerve Pain with numbness or tingling sensation
• Lack of energy levels
• Poor sleep quality
• Poor digestion

How do you fix and treat faulty posture?

Regular change in postures, avoiding static posture and sustained positions, and performing regular stretching and strengthening exercises with a healthy balanced diet and adequate hydration are quite important for healthy joints and muscles.

Also, contact your physiotherapist to help identify postural issues and provide you with appropriate exercises training.

Can physiotherapy exercises improve your posture?

A physiotherapist can help with postural correction by using a variety of techniques that can include education, manual therapy techniques, and corrective exercises, including stretching and strengthening of appropriate muscles to improve better control and stability in our joints and muscles.

How long does it take to correct posture with physiotherapy?

Postural rehabilitation is a process that takes time and effort. It is not an instant fix and can be done effectively with the help of your physiotherapist to ensure the best possible outcome and with a home exercises program.

The time taken to help correct posture depends on the severity of the condition. It could take 2-3 months to see any significant change in posture. The process involves multiple sessions of physiotherapy, exercises, and lifestyle changes.

If you are suffering from posture problems or have questions about proper alignment of your spine or other posture correction and need help from a physiotherapist, do not hesitate to call us at 604-532-7887 to know more book an appointment with our physio.