Stop what you are doing and reach your arms overhead. I mean really, really reach overhead. Can you feel how your thoracic spine (the portion of the spine between your shoulder blades) straightens and stretches?
There is no chance of slouching when you reach your arms overhead. This is important because as we get older, a stooped posture becomes more common. Medically this is called kyphosis. If you develop kyphosis, you raise your risk of development of shoulder impingement disorders and also having a vertebral compression fracture secondary to faulty alignment. Kyphosis also raises your risk of falling because it changes your center of gravity.
No matter what age you are, begin to reach your arms overhead on a daily basis so that your spine remains flexible and aligned!
