Posture Affects Standing, and Not Just the Physical Kind

The prevalence of desks, couches, loungers, and stools make for an abundance of time spend off our feet. It’s also becoming more and more clear how much of a negative effect this is having. For one thing, there’s a lack of physical movement, which leads to less blood circulation and increased risk of heart problems. For another, the bad body position that often comes along with our sitting habits can wreak havoc on our joints.

This is all bad, but it might get even worse. Those pain-inducing postures might be affecting our wellbeing outside of the physical health realm. For instance, if your back is forced into a slouch, you instantly look less confident, which might influence how others perceive and interact with you–not what you want at work.?This isn’t all, the New York Times has more bad news:

Poor posture can even leave you vulnerable to street crime. Many years ago, researchers showed that women who walked sluggishly with eyes on the ground, as if carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, were much more likely to be mugged than those who walked briskly and purposely with head erect. I can?t prove posture was at fault, but this is indeed what happened to a Brooklyn neighbor on her way home one night.

That comes as a bit of a surprise, but it also seems quite logical. It’s also likely there are more deficits to poor posture that aren’t mentioned here. Check out the full article for more details, plus some tips on straightening yourself up.