Posture Power

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POSTURE POWER: HOW TO CORRECT YOUR BODY’S ALIGNMENT

description

Posture correction guide.

Transcript of Posture Power

  • POSTURE POWER:HOW TO CORRECT YOUR

    BODYS ALIGNMENT

  • DEVIATION

  • DEVIATION 1: SWAY BACK

    HIPS PRESS FORWARD AND SIT IN FRONT OF THE RIBS

    Overactive muscles:

    Hamstrings

    Gluteus maximus

    Gluteus medius

    Erector spinae

    Quadratus lumborum

    Stretches:

    Runner's stretchWorlds greatest stretch

    Seated glute stretch

    Lying crossover

    Hamstring stretch

    Hamstring self-myofascial release (foam rolling)

    Underactive muscles:

    Iliopsoas (Hip flexors)

    External obliques

    Rectus Fenirus (Quad)

    Strengthening exercises:

    Cocoon

    Exercise ball pull-in

    Hanging leg raise

    Scissor Kick

  • DEVIATION 2: LOWER-CROSS SYNDROME

    EXCESSIVE CURVE IN THE LOW BACK, PELVIS IS TILTED FORWARD

    Overactive muscles:

    Iliopsoas (hip flexors)

    Erector spinae (low back)

    Stretches:

    kneeling hip flexor,

    quadriceps stretch,

    quadriceps self-myofascial release,

    hug knees to chest

    Underactive muscles:

    Abdominals

    gluteus maximus

    Strengthening exercises:Pelvic tilt to bridge

    single-leg glute bridge

    exercise-ball hip bridge

    leg-elevated crunch

    frog sit-up

  • DEVIATION 3: ROUNDED SHOULDERS

    SHOULDERS IN FRONT OF EARS

    Overactive muscles:

    Pectoralis major (chest)

    Pectoralis minor (chest)

    Stretches:

    Front deltoid stretch

    elbows-back stretch

    chest stretch on stability ball

    dynamic chest stretch

    chair upper-body stretch

    Underactive muscles:

    Rotator cuff,

    lower trapezius,

    serratus anterior

    Strengthening exercises:

    Seated cable row,

    back fly with band,

    shoulder external rotation,

    rear- delt row

  • DEVIATION 4: FORWARD HEAD

    EARS IN FRONT OF SHOULDERS

    Overactive muscles:

    Neck extensors,

    upper trapezius

    levator scapula

    Stretches:

    Neck self-myofascial release

    chin to chest

    sternocleidomastoid stretch

    Underactive muscles:

    Neck flexors

    Strengthening exercises:Isometric front-neck exercise

  • DEVIATION 5: UPPER-CROSS SYNDROME

    ROUNDED SHOULDERS WITH ANEXCESSIVE CURVE IN THE UPPER BACK AND A FORWARD HEAD

    Overactive muscles:

    Trapezius

    levator scapula

    pectoralis major

    pectoralis minor

    neck extensors

    Stretches:

    Neck self-myofascial release

    chin to chest

    front-delt stretch

    elbows-back stretch

    chest stretch on stability ball

    dynamic chest stretch

    chair upper-body stretch

    Underactive muscles:

    Rotator cuff

    lower trapezius

    rhomboids

    serratus anterior

    deep neck flexors

    Strengthening exercises:Isometric front-neck exercise

    seated cable row

    back fly with band

    shoulder external rotation

    rear-delt row

  • DEVIATION 6: HEAD TILT

    HEAD TILTED TO ONE SIDE; CAN BEACCOMPANIED BY ROTATION TOWARD THAT SIDE

    Overactive muscles:

    Sternocleidomastoid tilted toward midline

    Stretches:

    Side neck stretchneck self-myofascial release

    sternocleidomastoid stretch

    Underactive muscles:

    Sternocleidomastoid tilted away from midline

    Strengthening exercises:

    Perform daily activities evenly on both sides

    isometric side-neck exercise

  • DEVIATION 7: UNEVEN SHOULDERS

    ONE SHOULDER SITS HIGHER THAN THE OTHER

    Overactive muscle:

    Trapezius on the elevated side

    Stretches:

    side neck stretchneck self-myofascial release

    Underactive muscles:

    Serratus anterior on the elevated side

    Strengthening exercises:

    Perform daily activity evenly on both sides

    single-arm high-pulley row

  • DEVIATION 8: UNEVEN HIPS

    ONE HIP SITS HIGHER, CAN GIVE THE PERCEPTION OFLEG LENGTH DISCREPANCY

    Overactive muscles:

    Internal and external obliques,

    hip abductors,

    erector spinae

    quadratus lumborum on the raised side

    Stretches:

    Runner's stretch,

    world's greatest stretch,

    IT-band stretch,

    IT-band self-myofascial release,

    seated glute stretch,

    lying cross-over,

    piriformis self-myofascial release,

    dancer's stretch

    Underactive muscles:

    Varies based on individual

    Strengthening exercises:

    Avoid high-impact and high-repetition exercises

  • DEVIATION 9: FEET TURNED IN

    TOES ARE TURNED IN TOWARD THE MIDLINE OF THE BODY

    Overactive muscles:

    Tensor fasciae latae (outside of your hip)

    Stretches:

    IT-band stretch

    IT-band self-myofascial release

    Underactive muscles:

    Gluteus medius

    Gluteus minimus

    Strengthening exercises:

    Bridge with band tension around thighs

    lateral tube walk

    squat with band tension around thighs

  • DEVIATION 10: FEET TURNED OUT

    TOES ARE TURNED OUT AWAY FROM MIDLINE OF THE BODY

    Overactive muscles:

    Piriformis

    deep external rotators

    Stretches:

    Seated glute stretchlying cross-over

    piriformis self-myofascial release

    IT-band stretch

    IT-band self-myofascial release

    dancer's stretch

    Underactive muscles:

    Hip flexors

    obliques

    Strengthening exercises:

    Cocoon

    exercise ball pull-in

    hanging leg raise

  • STRETCHES

  • Chair upper-body stretch

    Sit on the edge of a chair, gripping the back of it.

    Straighten your arms, keeping your back straight, and pull your upper body forward so you feel a stretch. Hold for 20-30 seconds.

  • chest stretch on stability ball

    Get on your hands and knees next to an exercise ball.

    Place your elbows on top of the ball, keeping your arm out to your side. This will be your starting position.

  • chin to chest

    Get into a seated position on the floor.

    Place both hands at the rear of your head, fingers interlocked, thumbs pointing down and elbows pointing straight ahead.

  • dancer's stretch

    Sit up on the floor.

    Cross your right leg over your left, keeping the knee bent. Your left leg is straight and down on the floor.

  • dynamic chest stretch

    Stand with your hands together, arms extended directly in front of you. This will be your starting position.

    Keeping your arms straight, quickly move your arms back as far as possible and back in again, similar to an exaggerated clapping motion.

  • elbows-back stretch

    Stand up straight.

    Place both hands on your lower back, fingers pointing downward and elbows out.

  • Front deltoid stretch

    Reach your left arm across your body and hold it straight.

    With your right hand, grasp your left elbow and pull it across your body towards your chest.

  • Hamstring self-myofascial release (foam rolling)

    In a seated position, extend your legs over a foam roll so that it is position on the back of the upper legs. Place your hands to the side or behind you to help support your weight.

    Using your hands, lift your hips off of the floor and shift your weight on the foam roll to one leg. Relax the hamstrings of the leg you are stretching.

  • Hamstring stretch

    Sit on a mat with your right leg extended in front of you and your left leg bent with your foot against your right inner thigh.

    Lean forward from your hips and reach for your ankle until you feel a stretch in your hamstring. Hold for 15 seconds, then repeat for your other side.

  • Hug knees to chest

    Lie down on your back and pull both knees up to your chest.

    Hold your arms under the knees, not over (that would put to much pressure on your knee joints).

  • IT-band self-myofascial release

    Lay on your side, with the bottom leg placed onto a foam roller between the hip and the knee. The other leg can be crossed in front of you.

    Place as much of your weight as is tolerable onto your bottom leg; there is no need to keep your bottom leg in contact with the ground.muscles of the leg you are stretching.

  • IT-band stretch

    Loop a belt, rope, or band around one of your feet, and swing that leg across your body to the opposite side, keeping the leg extended as you lay on the ground.

    Keeping your foot off of the floor, pull on the belt, using the tension to pull the toes up. Hold for 10-20 seconds, and repeat on the other side.

  • Kneeling hip flexor

    Kneel on a mat and bring your right knee up so the bottom of your foot is on the floor and extend your left leg out behind you so the top of your foot is on the floor.

    Shift your weight forward until you feel a stretch in your hip. Hold for 15 seconds, then repeat for your other side.

  • Lying crossover

    Lie on your back with your arms extended out to the sides and your legs straight. This will be your starting position.

    Lift one leg and cross it over your body, attempting to touch the ground near the opposite hand.

  • Neck self-myofascial release

    Using a muscle roller or a rolling pin, place the roller behind your head and against your neck.

    Do not place the roller directly against the spine, but turned slightly against the muscles to either side of the spine.

  • piriformis self-myofascial release,

    Sit with your buttocks on top of a foam roll. Bend your knees, and then cross one leg so that the ankle is over the knee.

    Shift your weight to the side of the crossed leg, rolling over the buttocks until you feel tension in your upper glute. You may assist the stretch by using one hand to pull the bent knee towards your chest.

  • quadriceps self-myofascial release

    Lay face down on the floor with your weight supported by your hands or forearms. Place a foam roll underneath one leg on the quadriceps, and keep the foot off of the ground.

    Make sure to relax the leg as much as possible.

    Shifting as much weight onto the leg to be stretched as is tolerable, roll over the foam from above the knee to below the hip.

    Hold points of tension for 10-30 seconds. Switch sides.

  • quadriceps stretch

    Start off by lying on your right side, with your right knee bent at a 90-degree angle resting on the floor in front of you (this stabilizes the torso).

    Bend your left knee behind you and hold your left foot with your left hand, press your left hip forward as you push your left foot back into your hand. Switch sides.

  • Runner's stretch

    It's easiest to get into this stretch if you start standing up, put one leg behind you, and slowly lower your torso down to the floor.

    Keep the front heel on the floor (if it lifts up, scoot your other leg further back).

  • Seated glute stretch

    Begin seated on the ground with both legs extended.

    Bring your right knee up and over your left leg so that your right foot is on the ground. Keep the left leg extended.

  • side neck stretch

    Start with your shoulders relaxed, gently tilt your head towards your shoulder.

    Assist stretch with a gentle pull on the side of the head.

  • sternocleidomastoid stretch

    Rotate the head to one side as far as is comfortable

    Then tilt the head slightly back, as if trying to reach the ear to the shoulder.

  • Worlds greatest stretch

    Begin by lunging forward, with your front foot flat on the ground and on the toes of your back foot.

    With your knees bent, squat down until your knee is almost touching the ground.

    Keep your torso erect, and hold this position for 10-20 seconds.

    Place the arm on the same side as your front leg on the ground, with the elbow next to the foot.

    Your other hand should be placed on the ground, parallel to your lead leg, to help support you.

    After 10-20 seconds, place your hands on either side of your front foot.

    Raise the toes of the front foot off of the ground, and straighten your leg.

    You may need to reposition your rear leg to do so.

    Hold for 10-20 seconds, and then repeat the entire sequence for the other side.

  • References:

    Original post made by /u/Ilkzz linking to a bodybuilding.com article about posture: http://www.reddit.com/r/Fitness/comments/35b6oo/power_posture_how_to_correct_your_bodys_alignment/

    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/posture-power-how-to-correct-your-body-alignment.html?mcid=SM_twit02050815

    Then /u/kerrybaumann, formatted a list of posture problems with pictures and instructions for the stretches to correct them. The thread can be found here: http://www.reddit.com/r/Fitness/comments/36r854/a_while_ago_someone_posted_a_manifesto_on_posture/

    I decided to format it as PDF so it can be viewed via Kindle, Mobile phones and can even be printed out.

    If you have further information or photos, you can message me /u/mropineda, and I will be happy to add them in the ebook.