Old Lady Posture - Part I: How it happens

Happy Sunday!

The other day I got asked about 'old lady posture' and if there is anything you can do to prevent or even correct it. And my answer? Yes to both! You absolutely can prevent and work to reverse what is called 'kyphosis'.

For many women, posture problems begin in junior high school. Perhaps you developed early and got into the habit of slouching to hide your breasts. Or maybe you were a head or so taller than most of your girlfriends and half the guys at school, so you slouched to minimize your height. This slouching then becomes a hard habit to break and your posture and back soon begin to pay the price.

Kyphosis, also called roundback, Kelso's hunchback, or a 'Dowager's Hump' is a condition of over-curvature of the upper back. It can be either the result of degenerative diseases (such as arthritis), muscular developmental problems, osteoporosis with compression fractures of the vertebrae, trauma or poor posture through life.

The most common type of Kyphosis, normally attributed to slouching, can occur in both the old and the young. In the young, it can be called 'slouching' and is reversible by correcting muscular imbalances. In the old, it may be called 'hyperkyphosis' or 'dowager’s hump'. The ageing body tends towards a loss of musculoskeletal integrity, and kyphosis can develop due to ageing alone. But this too can be corrected and prevented through correcting muscular imbalances.

 

If your a sloucher here is what happens: your chest and lower back muscles become very tight and inflexible while your abdominals and upper back become weak and underdeveloped. Your tight chest combine with your weak shoulders pulls your neck and shoulders forward and your weak abs make your lower back even tighter causing pain and ever worsening posture.

So you've been a sloucher all of your life and your starting to think that 'old lady posture' is in your future? Not to worry! Stay tuned this week for a writes up on prevention and correction!

Stay Healthy!
Andrea