Emotions influence our mind and body reactions. Happy emotions produce smiles. Sad emotions produce frowns. These reactions are
the outer reactions we most commonly observe. What
about other emotional, inside reactions? Researchers are studying
these. A new study regarding emotions and back muscle
reactions caught the eye of Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka who
cares for many Sitka back pain sufferers. It is a
reminder to look at the whole person - mind and body! – and to
sit upright.
EMOTIONS AFFECT POSTURE
When someone is depressed or just in a down mood,
what does their body usually look like? Slumped forward,
eyes to the ground, tired? We’ve all seen this.
Upright posture does so much to increase positivity and decrease
fatigue and anxiety. (1) Body posture may well influence emotional
reactions! In an interesting twist
in this story of the relationship between muscular states and emotions,
researchers discovered that upright seated postures are advantageous.
Upright seated posture as opposed to a slumped seated
posture was found to raise self-esteem, arousal, and
mood as well as decrease fear. Linguists found that
slumped posture people used fewer and more negative emotion
words than upright posture
people. They therefore suggested in their study to sit
upright when in a stressful situation as it can keep self-esteem in check, lessen focus
on self, lower negative mood and produce
a positive mood. Speech rate rose, too. Sitting
upright may be just the way to build
resilience to stress. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka notices firsthand how
emotions impact Sitka chiropractic patients, particularly
stressed, sad Sitka back pain sufferers.
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AFFECT BACK MUSCLES
For back pain sufferers – who are surely not
immune to a down mood! – body responses like slumping
are not unusual. In a study of back muscles using electromyography found that
negative emotions raised differential back muscle activity
while positive emotions did not. The muscles were undisturbed, not having to respond at all. (3) While healing, the back pain
sufferer’s spine doesn’t
need any additional stimuli. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka offers gentle Sitka
chiropractic spinal manipulation via Cox®
Technic to calm its muscles and reduce its pain.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the
benefits of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management benefits aback
pain patient’s spine, muscle, and system.
Make your Sitka
chiropractic appointment soon. If stress or emotions make you slump and aggravate your back pain,
Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is here to ease the pain, prompt you
to sit up straight (like your parents used to tell you!), and find
a way to make you smile!