Adult health

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Why is good posture important?

When it comes to posture, your mother did know best. Her reminders to stand up straight and stop slouching were good advice.

Your spine is strong and stable when you practice healthy posture. But when you stoop or slouch, your muscles and ligaments struggle to keep you balanced — which can lead to back pain, headaches and other problems.

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2. Everett T, et al. Human Movement: An Introductory Text. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010:61.
3. Muscolino JE. Kinesiology: The Skeletal System and Muscle Function. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011:601.
4. Armiger P, et al. Stretching for Functional Flexibility. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010:171.
5. Tips to maintain good posture. American Chiropractic Association. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=1452. Accessed March 8, 2013.
6. Low back pain fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/back_pain.htm. Accessed March 8, 2013.
7. Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 11, 2013.