Remember when your mother used to yell at you not to slouch – turns out she was right. And she has science to back it up. Your posture can have a profound effect on your health. Walking or sitting with a hunched back has been linked to a variety of health issues. Just as much as not giving your spine what it needs, Movement!

What’s more, poor posture for a period of time can cause your body’s structure to change, leading to strain on your spine. While everyone slips a bit in the posture department now and then, the real damage occurs when it becomes a habit. In fact, you could be damaging your health with bad posture and not even realize it. Here are four ways that posture mistakes can harm your health.

Pain in the neck, back, and shoulders

Sitting in a slouched or hunched over position, drooping your shoulders, or rounding out your spine while standing or sitting can cause pain in your neck, back, and shoulders. Many people who work with computers as a regular part of their jobs experience this to some degree.

That is because the majority of workers do not have their computer monitors at the appropriate height, causing them to spend hours a day hunched over their keyboards. People who spend a lot of time on their smartphones and mobile devices experience tech neck, which is caused by this type of poor posture.

Increased depression and stress

The connection between posture and mood has long been established. People who walk slouched over tend to feel more depressed and have a poorer self-image.

When you are slouched, you are restricting blood flow throughout your body, inhibiting proper oxygenation of your cells, and crowding your organs so that they are not able to function at an optimum level. When all these things are going on, your mood will definitely be affected, especially if you aren’t as active as you should be.

Pain and weakness in the lower back, hips, knees, and ankles

This posture problem is common in people who are obese and pregnant women. The added weight causes the body to shift in unnatural positions in order to support it.

This postural problem can also be the result of weak muscles of the hip. This can cause flat feet and cause the ankles to roll inward.

The calf muscles will tighten and your knees may even rotate inward. You can experience plantar fasciitis, pain in your toes, heel spurs, bunions, and hip problems. Weight loss can help and pregnant women can benefit from a pregnancy sling or pregnancy girdle to support the added girth.

Spinal strain may lead to many health issues

When your spine doesn’t move and function properly it can cause headaches, dizziness, and a host of other issues. Practicing Good Posture can make all the difference in a lot of things.

Many people don’t make the connection between good posture and regular spinal movement with better health, but it is definitely there. Posture may seem simple like it’s not that big of a deal, but when it is practiced on an ongoing basis, it can be detrimental to your health. It isn’t worth the risk; not when the fix is as simple as regular movement.