Why and How to Improve Your Posture

Good posture sends a likeability signal

Your posture sends messages about your style and attitude. Good posture, more specifically, communicates self-confidence, even when you don’t feel that way!

It can be difficult to maintain good posture. And, often, poor posture develops gradually. One sign of poor posture contributes to another. Any of one poor posture elements can also contribute to body pain.

Signs of poor posture include any or all these items:

Weak core muscles (the ones that support your abdomen, lower back, and hips)
Rounded shoulders
Tilted hips (causing a swayback)
Forward head posture (as seen when someone sits in their car and their head is forward from the headrest)

To motivate yourself to improve your posture, think of it as a boost to your health and your career. You can change from someone who has poor posture to someone who is confident with a powerful stance.

Below are some ways to improve your posture.

Consider exercises that strengthen your core muscles as well as your lower back, hips, and abdomen. Stretching, yoga, crunches, and swimming all contribute to core strength.
Weak upper back muscles lead to rounded shoulders. You can strengthen your back by also working on your chest, shoulders, laterals, and hips. As your back and upper body strengthen, over time your shoulders will straighten up naturally.
You can correct tilted hips with abdominal exercises and exercises that focus on the hamstrings and gluteal muscles.
Proper posture has your ears in line with your shoulders. When you sit for a long period, you tend to stoop over yourself. This causes a forward positioning of your head. We tend to do this while we watch TV, drive, and work in front of a computer or machinery all day. Exercises that strengthen your neck and shoulders will allow you to stand and sit properly.

Work these ideas into your regular exercise regimen after you speak with your doctor. You may want to ask an exercise therapist for more ideas.