Do you have good posture?

[lightNlife]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LisaV</b></i>

A lot of the round shouldered positoins (including leaning forward on your elbows) </end quote></div>

Reducing shortness of breath may feel better, but the hunching over isn't good. Like a lot of things these days, doing it "just 'cuz it feels good" isn't always the best thing when you look at the overall picture.

The reason hunching over reduces shortness of breath is because then your blood--which is carrying much needed oxygen--can move more easily when it has less of the force of gravity to overcome.

For you science geeks out there, F=mg cos theta, where F=force, m=mass, g=acceleration due to gravity, and theta = angle of incline opposite the hypotenuse. This is why if you're leaning way over, it's easier to breathe than it would be if you're sitting up. It's the same reason why it's easier to push a heavy box up a ramp than to try to lift it to the same height straight up.

Okay, enough of the physics lesson. Eventually what happens as your body becomes more accostomed to the hunched over position, your physical ability to have enough force behind a cough for airway clearance is impaired. From there it's a vicious cycle as your lung capacity (FVC) and amount of inital expiratory force (FEV1) are adversely affected.

The moral of the story--grandma knows what she's talking about when she insists that we "quit slouching and sit up straight!"

 

[lightNlife]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LisaV</b></i>

A lot of the round shouldered positoins (including leaning forward on your elbows) </end quote></div>

Reducing shortness of breath may feel better, but the hunching over isn't good. Like a lot of things these days, doing it "just 'cuz it feels good" isn't always the best thing when you look at the overall picture.

The reason hunching over reduces shortness of breath is because then your blood--which is carrying much needed oxygen--can move more easily when it has less of the force of gravity to overcome.

For you science geeks out there, F=mg cos theta, where F=force, m=mass, g=acceleration due to gravity, and theta = angle of incline opposite the hypotenuse. This is why if you're leaning way over, it's easier to breathe than it would be if you're sitting up. It's the same reason why it's easier to push a heavy box up a ramp than to try to lift it to the same height straight up.

Okay, enough of the physics lesson. Eventually what happens as your body becomes more accostomed to the hunched over position, your physical ability to have enough force behind a cough for airway clearance is impaired. From there it's a vicious cycle as your lung capacity (FVC) and amount of inital expiratory force (FEV1) are adversely affected.

The moral of the story--grandma knows what she's talking about when she insists that we "quit slouching and sit up straight!"

 

[lightNlife]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LisaV</b></i>

A lot of the round shouldered positoins (including leaning forward on your elbows) </end quote></div>

Reducing shortness of breath may feel better, but the hunching over isn't good. Like a lot of things these days, doing it "just 'cuz it feels good" isn't always the best thing when you look at the overall picture.

The reason hunching over reduces shortness of breath is because then your blood--which is carrying much needed oxygen--can move more easily when it has less of the force of gravity to overcome.

For you science geeks out there, F=mg cos theta, where F=force, m=mass, g=acceleration due to gravity, and theta = angle of incline opposite the hypotenuse. This is why if you're leaning way over, it's easier to breathe than it would be if you're sitting up. It's the same reason why it's easier to push a heavy box up a ramp than to try to lift it to the same height straight up.

Okay, enough of the physics lesson. Eventually what happens as your body becomes more accostomed to the hunched over position, your physical ability to have enough force behind a cough for airway clearance is impaired. From there it's a vicious cycle as your lung capacity (FVC) and amount of inital expiratory force (FEV1) are adversely affected.

The moral of the story--grandma knows what she's talking about when she insists that we "quit slouching and sit up straight!"

 

[amber682]

I don't have CF but I have pretty rounded shoulders and so does my father. When they did the scoliosis screening when I was in school they actually referred me to a specialist. But it was just poor posture and they gave me exercises to do that strenghten the back and abs, and told me to sit up straight. It does feel awkward at first but it becomes habit eventually. When I'm tired I do slack off alot though and hunch over.

Its funny, how many of us do you think are concentrating on sitting up straight as we're reading this? I am. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Plus, if it feels awkward, you don't have to be standing up so straight that your shoulders are way back and your boobs way out. The doc told me to look in a full length mirror facing sideways. Pretend there's a dot on your heel, knee, hip bone, shoulder, and ear. The dots should line up in a straight line. And don't arch your lower back with your belly pushed outwards, keep your abs kind of tight.

 

[amber682]

I don't have CF but I have pretty rounded shoulders and so does my father. When they did the scoliosis screening when I was in school they actually referred me to a specialist. But it was just poor posture and they gave me exercises to do that strenghten the back and abs, and told me to sit up straight. It does feel awkward at first but it becomes habit eventually. When I'm tired I do slack off alot though and hunch over.

Its funny, how many of us do you think are concentrating on sitting up straight as we're reading this? I am. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Plus, if it feels awkward, you don't have to be standing up so straight that your shoulders are way back and your boobs way out. The doc told me to look in a full length mirror facing sideways. Pretend there's a dot on your heel, knee, hip bone, shoulder, and ear. The dots should line up in a straight line. And don't arch your lower back with your belly pushed outwards, keep your abs kind of tight.

 

[amber682]

I don't have CF but I have pretty rounded shoulders and so does my father. When they did the scoliosis screening when I was in school they actually referred me to a specialist. But it was just poor posture and they gave me exercises to do that strenghten the back and abs, and told me to sit up straight. It does feel awkward at first but it becomes habit eventually. When I'm tired I do slack off alot though and hunch over.

Its funny, how many of us do you think are concentrating on sitting up straight as we're reading this? I am. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Plus, if it feels awkward, you don't have to be standing up so straight that your shoulders are way back and your boobs way out. The doc told me to look in a full length mirror facing sideways. Pretend there's a dot on your heel, knee, hip bone, shoulder, and ear. The dots should line up in a straight line. And don't arch your lower back with your belly pushed outwards, keep your abs kind of tight.

 

[purpleangel28282]

Wow, I'm kind of glad to hear that I'm not the only one with bad posture, although at the same time that isn't a good thing that we all have bad posture, lol. I'm interested in trying some of these exercises and things to help with my posture. What kind of doctor would you talk to to get information on what exercises to do?

 

[purpleangel28282]

Wow, I'm kind of glad to hear that I'm not the only one with bad posture, although at the same time that isn't a good thing that we all have bad posture, lol. I'm interested in trying some of these exercises and things to help with my posture. What kind of doctor would you talk to to get information on what exercises to do?

 

[purpleangel28282]

Wow, I'm kind of glad to hear that I'm not the only one with bad posture, although at the same time that isn't a good thing that we all have bad posture, lol. I'm interested in trying some of these exercises and things to help with my posture. What kind of doctor would you talk to to get information on what exercises to do?

 

[jfarel]

Talk to a physical therapist.

 

[jfarel]

Talk to a physical therapist.

 

[jfarel]

Talk to a physical therapist.

 

[65rosessamurai]

I have to disagree with everybody on how to have good posture!!

For years I had bad posture as well. I thought it had more to do with constant stomach aches (slouching over), and a lack of self-confidence.

I also had a mother who kept telling me to stand up, or sit up straight, but it never really "hit me" until my ex-wife kept harping me about having a straight back. Perhaps one of the few things to be greatful for, but then again, my Iaido instructor was just as, if not more strict, about my posture.

The best, and perhaps only way to have good posture is to constantly remind yourself to walk, or sit, with your shoulders back, head up straight, and checking in the mirror (or asking someone) if your posture looks correct.

It actually took me at least five years to get my posture correct!! And, I swear to it (so does my family), that I actually look taller than when my posture was so bad. However, during the five years to "teach myslef" how to stand up straight, I had constant muscle ache in the front part of my chest...my hypothesis is that the muscles and tendons that were so used to the "hunch-back" posture had to stretch itself out in order for the posture in the back to be corrected.

Obviously, there are many advantages to having proper posture, breathing (as per mentioned), preventing future back problems, looking more confident in how you carry yourself, and perhaps most of all, not showing the "barrelled" chest so much.

Perhaps with excercise of the upper body, it will also cover the barrelled chest look, and massage will help ease the discomfort, perhaps even help correct the posture, but the only real "cure" to good posture is to work on it daily.

 

[65rosessamurai]

I have to disagree with everybody on how to have good posture!!

For years I had bad posture as well. I thought it had more to do with constant stomach aches (slouching over), and a lack of self-confidence.

I also had a mother who kept telling me to stand up, or sit up straight, but it never really "hit me" until my ex-wife kept harping me about having a straight back. Perhaps one of the few things to be greatful for, but then again, my Iaido instructor was just as, if not more strict, about my posture.

The best, and perhaps only way to have good posture is to constantly remind yourself to walk, or sit, with your shoulders back, head up straight, and checking in the mirror (or asking someone) if your posture looks correct.

It actually took me at least five years to get my posture correct!! And, I swear to it (so does my family), that I actually look taller than when my posture was so bad. However, during the five years to "teach myslef" how to stand up straight, I had constant muscle ache in the front part of my chest...my hypothesis is that the muscles and tendons that were so used to the "hunch-back" posture had to stretch itself out in order for the posture in the back to be corrected.

Obviously, there are many advantages to having proper posture, breathing (as per mentioned), preventing future back problems, looking more confident in how you carry yourself, and perhaps most of all, not showing the "barrelled" chest so much.

Perhaps with excercise of the upper body, it will also cover the barrelled chest look, and massage will help ease the discomfort, perhaps even help correct the posture, but the only real "cure" to good posture is to work on it daily.

 

[65rosessamurai]

I have to disagree with everybody on how to have good posture!!

For years I had bad posture as well. I thought it had more to do with constant stomach aches (slouching over), and a lack of self-confidence.

I also had a mother who kept telling me to stand up, or sit up straight, but it never really "hit me" until my ex-wife kept harping me about having a straight back. Perhaps one of the few things to be greatful for, but then again, my Iaido instructor was just as, if not more strict, about my posture.

The best, and perhaps only way to have good posture is to constantly remind yourself to walk, or sit, with your shoulders back, head up straight, and checking in the mirror (or asking someone) if your posture looks correct.

It actually took me at least five years to get my posture correct!! And, I swear to it (so does my family), that I actually look taller than when my posture was so bad. However, during the five years to "teach myslef" how to stand up straight, I had constant muscle ache in the front part of my chest...my hypothesis is that the muscles and tendons that were so used to the "hunch-back" posture had to stretch itself out in order for the posture in the back to be corrected.

Obviously, there are many advantages to having proper posture, breathing (as per mentioned), preventing future back problems, looking more confident in how you carry yourself, and perhaps most of all, not showing the "barrelled" chest so much.

Perhaps with excercise of the upper body, it will also cover the barrelled chest look, and massage will help ease the discomfort, perhaps even help correct the posture, but the only real "cure" to good posture is to work on it daily.