posture

[friend of pooh]

I have inherited my father's poor posture. What can I do to fix it? I don't want to be all hunched over when I get older...

 

[Christine]

Unless you've got some congenital curvature of the spine, you can't really "inherit" posture. Posture is a habit or way of carrying yourself. So, if you don't have any medical reasons for "slouching" you have to make a point of standing up straight, pulling your shoulders back, etc. Eventually, it will become natural to walk this way.

A lot of people get into bad posture habits in their teens, usually because of being taller than other kids or if they have esteem issues and try to be "unnoticeable." It then becomes habit. See if you can't just make an effort to correct it.

 

[lewdyan1]

I agree with Christine it is a habit you need to work on. When I am sitting at the desk or in the car I try to put my shoulder blades back so they are touching the seat, it makes my posture better.

 

[mamajoan]

Without seeing you it is impossible to correct your posture deficiencies. May I suggest you seek help from a Physical Therapist? Sometimes it helps to have a professional work with you. It does not have to be a ton of visits, even just one or two visits can make a difference in correcting posture habits.

The most common suggestions I made to my patients were as you Look in a full length mirror:

Good posture is a conscious habit.

Keep your ears over your shoulders over your hips. (side view)

Try not to ''turtle neck"... meaning tuck your chin in.. making sure your ears are over your shoulders...

Don't stand hunched.. bring your shoulder blades back.. not tight, but you should not be curved forward.

If you are sway back.. meaning increased curve of the low back... there are a series of exercises to strengthen the abdomen and stretch the back.

You can google "body mechanics", this will give you some cues too.

Sorry if this is vague... but again not being able to see you makes it tough.

Good Luck! and remember Good posture is a conscious habit

 

[bumbershoot]

Former chiro here.

Just like facial bones continuing on facial traits, our bones can carry on other traits. For instance, in my father's family, there's not a one with GOOD joints. It's some sort of genetic thing that caused my stepmom, at a family reunion, to look out at the beach and say "even without faces I can tell who is one of you, you all limp as you get older" (or osmething like that).

So you can inherit the way your spinal bones are shaped, and their shape can determine how they fit together. You also pick up on the way people sit... so it's nurture AND nature.

My grandma had a bit of a "dowager's hump", and as my mom aged she started to get it too and look just like her...I was newly graduated and started working on her, and she lost that hunch. I can get it too, even though I'm too young to be a dowager, LOL, but chiro care keeps it at bay.

So I'd get under gentle chiro care, I'd get professional massages, I'd exercise..do everything you can to keep your bones healthy, your muscles healthy and supple, and keep the spinal bones in better alignment, and you'll have an easier go of it as the genetics of the way your bones fit together tries to take over.

 

[wvdisluv2]

I have poor posture At 42 yrs old....I agree with being "concious" of your posture, but MAN is it hard!!! I'm 5'11 and I know that when I was practicing pilates, my posture was MUCH better Worth a try (and I need to get back to it)

 

[OceanAnnie]

Posture is hard to keep in the forefront of your mind. I have wondered about the posture bras sometimes. They don't look flattering at all, but I wonder if there are better designs and if they actually do help?

 

[RunningGirl]

pilates!