Can we talk?

Good Posture

         I'm slumping too much in my later years. That slouch is causing neck aches, headaches, and  a shoulder joint to start slipping. I spend my work days at a desk. I spend time in front of a computer at home where I hunch up my shoulders or lean on one elbow. I do make an effort to go walking everyday, just not long enough (goal one hour) and to move from time to time away from the desk, I still don't get enough activity.

         So the last two days I've been trying to remember to hold my shoulders down, to sit up straight, to stand straight instead of folding like an accordion, and to be sure my problem shoulder is held back. The result: I am so achy in my shoulders, upper back, and neck. I neck cracks and pops every time I move.Who knew good posture could hurt so much?

         I've tried avoiding the wrong ways to adjust the shoulders that the therapist showed me. I've avoided the things that cause pains that shoot down through my arm. I've practiced the proper breathing techniques. That's right, I wasn't even breathing properly. Hopefully, all this soreness and fatigue will wear off sooner rather than later.

         Once the arm bone is properly positioned in the shoulder socket again, and the muscle tension eases up, I should feel better in general. I probably won't look older than I really am either. We really should listen to our teachers and nurses when we are young and exercise good posture when we are young. But we need refresher courses, too, through the years. I found it helpful to have a good therapist explain and demonstrate with a good skeleton model and plastic muscles and tendons. It made sense, and I could accept what he was telling me without thinking he was making my situation worse.

         I will get up every 30 minutes and walk around. I will walk more. I will keep doing my stretches. I've given the office manager permission to remind me to stand up straight. I will breathe deeply. I've learned such bad habits; but I will change them.