Poor posture affects the whole body, but can be easily fixed with a few adjustments. The average American adult spends more than three and a half hours looking down at a smartphone every day. Looking down or slouching for long periods of time can not only cause chronic pain in the back, neck and knees, but it can lead to more serious health issues like circulation problems, heartburn and digestive issues if left unchecked. However, a new national survey finds that too few Americans are concerned with the health effects of bad posture. Only 47 percent responded that they were concerned about poor posture and its impact on their health.
Being even slightly misaligned can put a lot of strain on the body. In fact, for every inch your head moves in front of your body, 10 pounds of pressure is added to your shoulders. If, for example, your head is four inches in front of your body when you’re looking down at your phone, that’s like having a child sitting on your shoulders that whole time.
The good news is that most of the issues caused by poor posture are reversible with some simple changes.
A doctor of chiropractic can assist you with proper posture, including recommending exercises to strengthen your core postural muscles. He or she can also assist you with choosing proper postures during your activities, helping reduce your risk of injury.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.