The therapist talked about the consequences of incorrect posture.

Proper posture helps to evenly distribute the load on the spine and joints. Roxana Portnova, a general practitioner and cardiologist at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia on March 23 what other health effects posture has, whether it affects brain health, how to suspect its disorders, and what preventive measures are in place.

"Posture is the natural posture of a person's body when he stands or walks, that is, he is in an upright position. It affects the natural curve of the spine and, as a result, the tone of the muscles of the back, neck and shoulders, and the work of internal organs. For example, if you have an incorrect posture, you may experience curvature of the spine, spasm and pain in the muscles of the back and neck," the expert said.

In addition, with severe spinal deformity, internal organs may malfunction due to compression.

"At the same time, if we talk about the effect of posture on the brain, evidence-based medicine has not yet established a direct link between them. There are no studies that claim that improper posture directly causes brain diseases, strokes, or other similar conditions," the therapist noted.

At the initial stage, changes in posture may be unnoticeable, but at the same time, for example, pain and tension in the back or neck may appear. Over time, there is a difference in shoulder height, a skewed pelvis and an asymmetry of the waist, which can be seen with the naked eye. If these signs occur, you need to consult a doctor, it is especially important to consult if the child has changes in posture.

"Spinal deformity treatment can be conservative and surgical. The first includes ensuring adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, maintaining optimal body weight, physical therapy, and symptomatic therapy, for example, pain medications are prescribed. Surgical treatment, in turn, may be required in advanced stages, that is, when there are "red flags", including progressive muscle weakness, clumsiness, numbness and the spread of pain in the limb," explained Portnova.

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to adhere to a number of measures. So, according to the doctor, it is necessary to monitor your posture during the day, especially when working at a computer for a long time — your shoulders should be straightened, your shoulder blades should be brought together, and your back should be straight.

It is equally important to properly organize the workspace: the table should be on a par with the armrests of the chair, while the bend in the elbows is slightly more than 90 degrees, the legs are bent at the knees also at an angle of about 100 degrees; the monitor should be positioned at eye level. For a natural hand position, you can use special wrist supports and ergonomic computer mice, and for proper posture, a lumbar support chair.

It is also necessary to engage in physical activity — at least 150 minutes a week, that is, three to five times for 30-50 minutes, respectively. These can be, for example, aerobic exercises, swimming, Nordic walking.

Do not forget about the benefits of regular warm—ups throughout the day - every hour you should do light exercises for the neck and back in order to reduce their tension. For example, turns and tilts of the head, as well as stretching the muscles of the back: you need to stand up straight, stretch your right arm over your head and bend to the left, feeling the stretching of the right half of the body, stay in this position for 20-30 seconds, and then switch sides. If desired, you can repeat the cycle.

In addition, proper organization of the sleeping place also plays an important role. The expert recommended using a semi-rigid mattress, and choosing the height of the pillow so that it corresponds to the distance from the neck to the end of the shoulder. The head, neck and shoulders must be securely supported by a pillow without falling into it, otherwise the muscles of the cervical spine will be overloaded, which can lead to pain.

Earlier, on March 15, Polina Lepilova, a neurologist at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia that painful sensations in the neck area with regular use of gadgets are commonly referred to as "computer neck" syndrome. She explained that it implies the development of a complex of symptoms in humans that occur due to prolonged static tension of the neck and shoulder girdle muscles.