[Physioguy]

Thanks Vickie and Physioguy!!

It sounds as if stretching and proper exercises help to encourage and set up one's posture.

Should not one consciously adjust one's posture when they find themselves getting tired and slipping into a slump or poor posture? This seems to help me.

While we are on this... what about matresses, chairs, and special pillows? I have heard that these things can make quite a difference.

Also, what about sleeping positions? I heard that stomach sleeping, for example, is bad for certain back and hip ailments.

Sorry, missed this one.

While it is great to remind yourself about posture (and it helps if your loved ones remind you about it, too), I find that it doesn't completely do the trick. Good posture has to become not a habit, but the way your body naturally wants to be in. And that has to come with proper flexibility (i.e. nothing is being strained to maintain good posture), and strength/endurance (i.e. again, nothing is being strained to maintain proper posture).

The average person is basically succumbing to gravity, as discussed with the rounded back, head-forward, rounded shoulder posture. Many people can't get close to the "ideal" posture, they need to work on flexibility big time, not just of the muscles, but the joints as well.

As far as mattresses, chairs, etc. I don't think you need to do anything fancy. For chairs, sit up straight. Period. (Mom was right all along) For sleep, try not to prop your head up on a bunch of pillows. You want to maintain normal alignment, you want to SUPPORT your head and neck.

Sleep - well, sleep gets complicated. Prone lying tends to encourage a rotated neck (otherwise you couldn't breathe!). Side lying, while comfortable, encourages hip flexor tightness - if you use this position, try a pillow or spacer between the legs to maintain spinal alignment. Supine lying would be great, if you can tolerate the position (many people cannot due to hip flexor tightness)

Hope this helps.