Many of you hear your parents tell you to straighten up, stop slouching, or sit up straight. People who have better postures often are seen as having something special about them. While posture begins at the feet, poor posture is a developmental phenomenon that reflects our body style and how we walk. People who have good posture are usually who we see modeling clothing on runways, yet men's suits are often cut for shoulders that roll in, probably a result of what the typical client's body is shaped like. You can improve posture with exercises, but you must also properly support your feet if you are asymmetrically built or have flat feet. One of the most common compensations for flat feet or people who have high arches with feet that turn out is that their shoulder roll in. In the book Cheating Mother Nature, what you need to know to beat chronic pain, references Dr. Brian Rothbart's paper which discussed the engineer's point of view of why people slouch, and how the feet create the problem. When we slouch, it does create more stressful postures in the shoulders, neck, and back and the ligaments and muscles over time will accommodate the problem with functional and structural changes resulting in lost flexibility, pain, and in some cases disability. Patients are now relying on chiropractors for postural advice. Most of these problems begin at the feet and are related to how we adapt from the ground up. Sure, you can purchase a posture brace often found on Amazon for a few dollars which feel good but ultimately may weaken the upper body while the true problems beneath you go uncorrected. Postural problems are often responsible for Neck pain Lower back pain Knee Pain Shoulder problems Many other joint issues and flexibility issues. Your local chiropractor will evaluate you holistically and help you figure out the best way to a better posture naturally. There are other consequences that are not directly physical, according to the NY Times. Check out their article on posture here. Posture Affects Standing, and Not Just the Physical Kind By Jane E. Brody December 28, 2015 A distraught wife begged me to write about the importance of good posture. My husband sits for many hours a day slouched over his computer," she said. "I've told him repeatedly this is bad for his body "he should sit up straight "but he pays no attention to me. He reads you every week. Maybe he'll listen to you." So here goes: Yes, dear sir, listen to your wife. Slouching is bad. It's bad not only for your physical health but also for your emotional and social well-being. More about this in a bit. Without delay, get that computer on a proper surface (laps can encourage slouching) and get a supportive chair that enables you to sit up straight with your head aligned directly over your shoulders and hips when your eyes are on the screen. As a short person who is prone to back pain, I have long been aware of the value of good posture, and seating that minimizes the stress on my spine and the muscles and ligaments that support it. I know within seconds of sitting in a car whether it will hurt my back or neck; when renting, I test car after car until I find one that suits my diminutive frame. Read more here Read Cheating Mother Nature by purchasing it here. Do you want help now? Book online here.