Shocking graphic reveals what your future hunched back posture could look like if you don’t improve your sleep
A SHOCKING graphic has revealed what your future self could look like if you don’t work on your posture - both standing and in bed.
Posture is affected by how we sit, text, and even sleep.
And with poor habits, you could end up like Polly - a CGI character with unsightly posture.
She is the “sleep-deprived, posture-poisoned future” that experts say most Brits are heading towards.
Polly struggles with “text neck”, where her cervical spine has compressed thanks to the way she has hung her head while scrolling on her phone for decades.
"Text neck" is a repetitive stress injury or overuse of the neck, caused when a person has their head flexed in a forward position and is bent down looking at their mobile phone, laptop or iPad for long periods of time.
This compression can cause a tingling sensation or pain in the hands and fingers.
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Polly has increased curvature of the upper spine (kyphosis), typically found in people who sit for long hours, such as at their desk.
Kyphosis, the NHS says, can be caused by slouching, leaning back in chairs and carrying heavy bags.
Polly’s shoulders drop forwards and she’s at risk of insufficient breathing patterns, as her hunched over body is not allowing for her chest to properly expand.
Bad posture can also cause pain, aches, a pot belly and headaches.
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Polly was created by posture expert Ivana Daniell with the mattress specialists to warn millions of Brits what they may look like in 20 to 30 years time.
It comes as Time4Sleep discovered that a shocking 70 per cent of Brits have woken up with back pain, and 67 per cent with neck pain.
We often think of sitting and standing position when it comes to posture, but sleep position matters, too.
Your body’s posture during sleep can have a negative effect on your spinal column. Some positions are a recipe for neck or back pain in the morning.
Pain relating to poor posture comes from increasing tension in muscles.
Failing to sleep in a position that protects the spine - instead causing aches and pains - will inevitably cause sleep deprivation.
Resident doctor at Time4Sleep, Dr Frankie Jackson-Spence said: “Our posture can be negatively affected by lots of our daily habits.
"However, the big culprits are using our phones for everything, racking up our screen time to often seven hours plus a day.
“Working from home without the proper equipment and not thinking enough about our sleep posture and quality of our mattress also plays a large part in this.
“Remember we spend 6-9 hours in bed every day so your posture during this time matters!”
Tips for improving posture you can do today
You were likely told to “sit up straight” as a child.
But there is a lot more to it than that - strength and stretching exercises are crucial for ensuring long-lasting improvements.
When it comes to sleeping, experts at Time4Sleep say the ideal position is on your back with your pillows at a height that keeps your head aligned with your chest and lower back.
This avoids the unnatural curving of the spine.
Dr Frankie said: “Although the ideal sleep position is on your back, this can be uncomfortable to start with.
“A great way to get used to this change in sleep posture would be to use pillows to support the natural curvature of the spine.
“For example, a pillow under your head to keep it in line with your chest and lower back, you can also put a pillow under your knees.”
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At your desk, invest in a proper chair, such as an ergonomic chair, that puts your body at the perfect position while you sit for several hours of the day.
Position your computer at eye level to avoid slouching towards the desk, or raising your head to look upwards.
