Strength training involves the use of your own body weight as resistance to build muscular tissue. It has a big impact on your overall health and wellness, which in turn impacts your quality of life. Poor posture can be attributed in part to muscle weakness. Eventually this leads to pain and injury, especially when working in the dental field where it is easy for your posture to be compromised. Poor posture also has an emotional impact, affecting your confidence and self-esteem. Strength training helps improve your posture in the following ways:
- Improves core strength: By strengthening and tightening your core (back and abdominal muscles), you can help to better support your spine making it easier to stand upright. Weak abdominal muscles can cause your pelvis to tilt forward, putting more strain on your upper back and neck. One of the best exercises to strengthen your core is the plank.
- Relieves back pressure: When your back is not properly aligned, there is a lot of stress placed on the joints. This can contribute to low back pain in particular. Strengthening the lower back can help put the spine into a more ideal alignment. Glute bridge exercises are excellent for improving lower back strength.
- Reverses poor positioning: In the dental world, many of us are hunched over the patient chair all day, or twisting and turning to one side. Obviously, these positions will have an effect on our posture over time. Strength training can help to undo the effects of poor positioning throughout the day. A good exercise to combat the hunched over position is an upper body “pull” exercise, such as a chin up.
- Builds shoulder muscles: When your shoulder muscles are weak, they have a tendency to rotate internally. Rotated shoulders are one of the major causes of poor posture. By strengthening your shoulder muscles, your neck and back will be better supported. Bent over row exercises are a good way to make the shoulders stronger.
Strength training is so important for your muscles and joints. Not only will it improve your posture, but also your overall mental and physical health. Proper posture will help you lengthen the life of your dental career. Contact us for a strength training consultation or posture analysis.