Question
Hello Mr Gold, I am 19 and for years now my family has yelled at me because I have a bad habit of leaning my head and upper half or body in a arch foward, sort of a gomer pyle type thing. I recently read a few sites such as Cleveland spinal clinics page of self correcting your posture. I spent the last day look in mirrors etc trying to see if I was maintaining a proper straight posture. I am also a night stockboy so I read their information on the proper lifting procedures etc and sitting posture as well. After a day of this when work was almost over, my upper back muscles started to get tight and sore. Is this tightness and soreness from trying to maintain a proper posture and lift correctly and will this subside if i get rest and continue to practice good posture. I know this was a long question but it would sure help me because I would like to rid the pain and correct my embarassing posture

Answer
Tom,

That kind of posture is usually NOT the result of weak back muscles, but of overly tight abdominal muscles and possibly neck muscles (in front), which pull you forward.  To attempt to correct your posture without relaxing your frontal tension will only lead to back muscle tension and fatigue.

When those muscles are relaxed, to sit erect is the easiest posture and requires no special effort.

You can retrain yourself using the exercises found in Thomas Hanna's book, Somatics (available through Amazon.com).

I am preparing audio instruction on CD for the exercises found in that book.

Send email to [email protected] for a preview.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold