posture

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Are there any specific exercises that will hel strengthen a person so they will have better posture. I find myself always slouching, leaing and never sitting up straight. I am so much taller when I do and look better, but I (or someone else) always catch myself with terrile posture. I have to always be aware about it. This is really important to me that I would be willing to go see a chiropractor or posture specialist (whatever that is)... so any specific exercises or streches??

[Mr.Noodle]

Hmmm, have you ever thought of getting "in-soles" (in think thats how it's spelt).
Its a sole you put in your shoe that is supposed to help correct your posture. You go to a foot doctor, they put your feet in a mold, and get you in-soles that'll fit you just right.
I found that they helped me alot, but they take some getting used to (they can run up to 400bucks US including the cost of check ups)

Noodle

[pump]

is this usually covered by insurance? and what kind of dr do I go to... (probably a podiatrist)

[Mr.Noodle]

Honestly I dont know if its covered by insurance companies...I live in Canada.
And it is a podiatrist you should go to.

Heres more info about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthotics

[liza larence]

Tell your wife or significant other that when they see you slumping....to SLAP you soundly, right between the shoulder blades! That'll get your attention

[Insex]

Try working out your abdominals. The reason why some people have poor posture is because they have very weak abdominal muscles.

With that said, you don't want to overdevelop your abdominals alone, because that would lead to more posture problems. This is why you also need to incorporate some lower back and hamstring exercises into your routine.

In a nutshell, working out your entire body (with picture-perfect form) will attribute towards correcting your posture.

[Doughboy]

Funny you should ask that now, I just downloaded this ebook that is about speaking skills (Im taking a communications course in sept) and they talk about posture and they give a couple exercises. Here is a quote from it (so kinda ignore the part about voice resonance lol)

Posture

Posture is important because if the body is not properly aligned the voice can't come out with the power, the
resonance, and the projection that it naturally has.

Exercise 1 - Imagine there is a string that runs through the top of the head and down through the neck, and
down through the spine. Then imagine that someone pulls up slightly on the string, straightening the neck
and the spine to the point where even if there were no muscles holding them in place the bones would stay
sitting one on top of the other, and at the same time you feel your shoulders slide back into place. Now,
imagine moving through the world this way ... when you sit at your computer ... drive in your car... watch
TV.
Exercise 2 - In order for some people to keep their shoulders back in place they need to stretch out the chest
and strengthen the back (especially the rhomboids, between the shoulder blades, and the rear deltoids, which
are the backs of the shoulders). This is true especially for people who sit at computers all day long.

Posture Stretches

Number 1
This stretch should be felt just above the collarbone in that little triangle.
1. Stand with your lower back straight. Have your legs shoulder width apart, and your knees slightly bent.
2. Reach behind the back with your right arm and grab the left arm (which is down by the side) at or just
above the elbow.
3. Rotate the left arm back in the socket gently, making sure you're turning the arm at the shoulder joint and
not the elbow.
4. Turn your head to the right looking over the shoulder, and then tilt the chin down toward the shoulder.
5. Hold this position for 60 seconds.
6. Repeat on other side.
Alternate Step 3 - If you can't reach your arm that way, just gently rotate the shoulder back in the socket
without holding the arm. You'll know if you're doing the stretch right by where you feel it.

Number 2
1. Move your shoulders up toward your ear.
2. Roll them back, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
3. Let your shoulders drop, letting them stay back naturally.

Number 3
You'll feel this stretch in the chest, just below the collarbone, from the breastbone all the way to the shoulder.
1. Place the palm of your hand again the wall, with your arm straight, and your hand about three inches
above the shoulder.
2. Lean into the stretch, so your body is as perpendicular to the wall as possible while remaining
comfortable.
3. Hold stretch for 60 seconds.
4. Repeat on other side.
You can also do neck and shoulder rolls to loosen up these areas and help them realign after the stretches.

Other things is just to become aware of how your body is and straighten it out. Do you slouch when sitting at the computer? Sit up straight. etc
Work out back shoulders and abs have a good core. I dont know how your back is but if you can do it there is an exercise called the bridge that may help you out as well. search for info on it here or on google.

[orientalkid]

I fing doing chin up amd rear deltiod excerise IN CORRECT FORM helps. Somethimes it maybe a weal spinal erector muscle that causes u to slough. U may want to do some hyper-extension ( but dun hyper extend ur back too mush) in the range of 15 to 20 reps and do it slow to improve the ENDURANCE (and not strength) of ur lower back.

[Klipper]

I'm in Can too.

If you do have a medical issue, and not just one one for the sake of it, your provincial health insurance should cover it. I am on Ontario, and the clinic down the street advertises it on their window.

[Italianangel]

In addition to the excellent suggestions above, stretch your chest, the pec attachments get tight and pull the shoulder forward, go see a deep tissue massage therapist once or twice to workout the scar tissue and make sure you train rhomboids and rotator cuffs.
Linda

[bouncer]

Well I jumped onto this thread figuring I could contbute, but all of you extremely intelligent and good-looking people covered it. Kudos!

This is such a great site.

[pump]

thank you guys... there is a lot of information here...