Your posture is defined as the way your muscles and bones are aligned. The importance of good posture cannot be overstated; your posture is linked to your health, your appearance and can even be linked to your success. However, having a healthy posture is not as common as you might think. Many activities, such as sitting, lifting, sleeping and standing, can affect our posture. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The way we sit is one of the major factors that contribute to bad posture. Many people have jobs that involve sitting at a desk for 6-8 hours a day while staring at a computer screen. Few people remember to break the monotony by stretching or taking a short walk during their break. If you're not sitting while at work, you probably are during your commute or when you get home and are relaxing after a long day. Poor sitting posture can affect the shape of the spinal cord, causing back pain and, over time, other serious complications. The way we sleep, stand, or lift objects also plays a role in determining our posture. More recently, technology has also had an impact on our posture. People commonly roll their shoulders forward and bend their neck while texting, browsing social media, or reading an eBook. Massage therapy is useful for restoring good postural habits. It does this in the following ways: Massage therapy to relax tight muscles helps to relax tight muscles in the body through the use of gentle pressure and long strokes along the back, neck and shoulders. During the massage the knots in the muscles are loosened and the muscles are no longer constantly tense. When your muscles aren't forced into a contracted state, they don't pull your spine down, allowing you to comfortably straighten your back into a healthy posture. Deep tissue massages more effectively reduce severe muscle tension through a series of more penetrating strokes. Reduced pain. People usually experience pain in the lower back, neck and shoulders due to a relaxed posture. Massage helps stretch these sore muscles so they don't feel overworked. Massages also help push toxins out of the muscles, where they are carried into the bloodstream to be disposed of as waste. With fewer toxins, such as lactic acids, your muscles will begin to feel much healthier and you will notice less pain. Deeper breathing. Did you know that bad posture affects breathing? Not convinced? Try this: Sit in a chair and bend over, letting your hands rest on the floor. Do you find breathing easy? Probably not. Poor posture limits the movement of the lungs and diaphragm, thus choking breathing. A massage, however, will help relieve the muscles of your upper body, improving your posture and eliminating any breathing obstructions. Reduces the risk of arthritis. With regular massage therapy, the risk of developing arthritis is also reduced. A common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the cartilage between two bones in a joint wears away, causing the bones to rub against each other. The result is intense pain and swelling around these joints. Research has shown that poor posture is one of the causes of OA. Massage therapy often involves stimulating muscles and joints to increase circulation to the treated area. Better circulation around the joints.