It’s easy to ignore posture until it starts speaking up. The stiffness after hours at a desk. The dull ache after scrolling on a phone. They’re all signs that modern life isn’t kind to the spine. For Dr. Corey Sorum of Lone Star Spine and Joint, those habits are the first place he looks when helping patients.
“People bring their head down to their phone. Bring your phone up to your face,” he says. It is one of the most common patterns he sees in both adults and kids.
Everyday Awareness
For Dr. Corey, posture awareness starts with the little things. How we hold our phones. How long we sit. What our kids see us do. “Kids do what they see,” he says. “If they see you on your phone with your head down, that is what they will do.”
He wants people to notice the signs that their bodies are giving them. Even small changes make a difference. “Every little bit matters. Even five percent better is still better than nothing.”
Good posture is not about holding one perfect position all day. It is about moving. “Most people are curved forward,” he says. “I joke that I do not want them shaped like a candy cane.” A small shift here and there adds up.
Workday Wellness
That same awareness can change the flow of a workday. Dr. Corey often sends notes to workplaces to help patients get better desk setups. “I write letters to companies all the time,” he says. “They will change someone’s desk height, get them a standing desk, or provide an under-the-desk treadmill once they know it helps avoid pain and injuries, causing employees to miss work.”
He is a strong believer in switching positions instead of staying still. “Sit for an hour, stand for an hour, walk for an hour,” he says. “Change positions throughout the day.”
Movement helps more than posture alone. “When we sit for long periods, we are not squeezing our leg muscles, so blood flow slows down. It increases the risk of clots,” he explains. The body slows down in other ways, too. “Even our digestion slows during long-term sitting. When people move more, that improves too.”
Sleeping Right
How we sleep matters just as much as how we move. “On your back is best,” he says. “A pillow under your neck and knees takes pressure off your spine.”
Side sleepers need full support as well. “Side sleepers need a pillow between the neck and the shoulder, and one between the knees,” he says. “If not, they will wake up with hip pain or a kink.”
He also sees many patients waking up tired or sore after holding on to a worn-out mattress for too long. “If you wake up hurting more than when you went to bed, your mattress is done,” he says. “People replace their cars more than their mattresses, but we spend more time in bed than we do driving.”
The Power of StemWave
Dr. Corey uses hands-on care, but he also relies on tools that help people heal faster. One of the most helpful has been StemWave. “I got StemWave for patients who have chronic pain or who have difficulty with getting adjusted,” he says.
Patients have seen positive changes. “The results have been really good,” he says. “A lot of people feel a difference after the first visit.” He uses it often for chronic pain, old injuries, and joint issues. “It decreases inflammation, increases circulation, and brings stem cells to the injury site.”
His own story with it is what convinced him to bring it into the practice. “My wrists hurt so bad I thought I might have to quit adjusting,” he says. “After one StemWave treatment, I was like, alright… this works.”
That experience shaped how he treats others. He wants people to stay active and live without fear of pain returning. “I want people to get back to the things they enjoy,” he says. “If someone cannot play with their kids or do their hobbies, that is real pain.”
Dr. Corey’s Top Four Posture Fixes
-
Drink more water. You’ll move more, and your body will thank you. Even a short walk to the restroom or to refill your glass helps reset your spine.
-
Check your setup. If you’re looking down at your screen, it’s too low. Raise it to eye level and sit close enough to avoid leaning forward.
-
Fix your sleep. If you wake up sore, change your position or mattress. The right pillow setup can turn restless nights into real recovery.
-
Don’t be a candy cane. Bring your phone to your face, not the other way around. Your neck and shoulders will feel the difference in days.