Improving your posture can have many positive effects — decreasing stress on your joints, reducing fatigue, preventing injury and enhancing your physical appearance.
One of the most important benefits of good posture is better breathing.
Regardless of the activity, posture can have a significant impact on our ability to breathe well and feel better.
Impaired posture is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Postural problems in PD include stooped posture associated with increased muscle rigidity and stiffness related to the disease.
Stooped posture — forward head, rounded shoulders, and flexed trunk — reduces the capacity of the lungs to take full breaths and inhibits the function of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm moves downward when inhaling and upward when exhaling. With exhalation, the abdominal muscles lift up and help to push the diaphragm against the lungs. With inhalation, the the lower ribcage expands and stretches the outer edges of the diaphragm to create more space for the lungs to fill.
Improving posture promotes the ability to fully expand the rib cage and engage the diaphragm in each breath we take — allowing us to breathe more deeply and to remain calm during stress.
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