As a child, you probably heard a parent or a teacher tell you to “stand up straight!” Simple as it sounds, maintaining proper posture is an important way to keep the intricate structures in the back and spine healthy and help reduce the incidence and levels of back and neck pain. Maintaining bad posture can add strain to muscles and put stress on the spine. Over time, the stress of poor posture can change the anatomical characteristics of the spine, leading to the possibility of constricted blood vessels and nerves, as well as problems with muscles, discs, and joints. All of these can be major contributors to back and neck pain.

Follow these simple guidelines to avoid injuring your back while performing these common activities:

Keeping one foot forward with knees slightly bent while standing takes the pressure off your low back.

Sitting with your hips a little higher than your knees reduces low back strain.

Stand on a stool to reach things that are above your shoulder level.