I was just curious as I was sitting here at my computer desk. For me, its a daily battle to try and sit up as I sit here at my desk. I even have a posture pillow I slip in behind me but sometimes even that doesnt work. I sit alot at work and Im ALWAYS catching myself slouching even a little bit. I dont want to end up like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. What are all you guy's issues with sitting at the desk?

Horrible... My posture is so bad.
I'm hoping with some hyperextensions that it will get better...

I was just curious as I was sitting here at my computer desk. For me, its a daily battle to try and sit up as I sit here at my desk. I even have a posture pillow I slip in behind me but sometimes even that doesnt work. I sit alot at work and Im ALWAYS catching myself slouching even a little bit. I dont want to end up like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. What are all you guy's issues with sitting at the desk?

Terrible! I have to actually make a conscious effort to keep my shoulders back when walking. As for sitting in a chair, fuggetaboudit

jason

It's one of those things you just have to keep reminding yourself about. As a pianist, if I allow my lower back to slouch, or my shoulders to droop forward, I'm in pain by the end of the day.

The past several years I've made a conscious effort to check my posture off and on all day long, and it's made a big difference. I don't get annoying muscle pulls in the back anymore, and I can still feel good at the end of the day.

Things that help me: remember to "sit tall," keeping the lower back "tucked in," rather than rounded outward. Periodically shrug your shoulders high, and back, then allow them to drop down at your side.

My posture is awful. I keep on trying to correct it but nothing ever works :(.

when my job required me to use the computer all day, I put the monitor on a riser (basically a box), to bring it up. If the monitor is lower than your eyes when you're sitting up straight and looking straight ahead, you tend to hunch over and lean down. But when the monitor's up at eye level, you can maintain better posture easier.

I sit in all sorts of pretzel positions in my computer chair and slouch in my seats in school. Suprisingly, I think I have pretty good posture when I'm just standing around and walking; I keep the shoulders back, chest tall, and back straight without thinking about it.

TRY YOGA!!

I've been practicing yoga for about 9 months now, and not only has my back pain been reduced, but I've found my posture has naturally become better. There are some VERY easy yoga poses, and I find that most people who know nothing about yoga think it is either a) all about chanting crazy jargon or b) think it is about twisting your body like a controtionist...neither of these are true. Some simple examples of posture correcting yoga poses:

Lay on your back on the floor (hard surface w/ a soft covering..carpet, or a gym mat), put your feet flat on the floor, bent knees. Your lumbar curve should be up and the excersize is to straighten your lubmar curve so its right on the floor (usually by moving your upper body backwards..this is so complex to write, but easy to follow once you lay down and try it) and then curve it as much as you can. Repeat this slowly for a little while.

Then after you've done that excersize, bring your knees in to your chest. This will make your impact point with the floor your lumbar curve, and it will help with lower back pain.

Remember, your spine is like a spring. If you bend the spring at the top, it creates more pressure at the bottom. IMHO postural problems arise from the lower back, not the shoulder areas and upper spine.

If anyone needs further yoga poses that will help, you can IM me (and PLEASE do!!) my AIM SN is: LemonSong1

and www.yogajournal.com has some excellent examples of other things you can do..they're easy, fun, relaxing, and feel OH SO GOOD on your body, esp. your back! Another suggestion would be to sleep on a harder surface, the softer the mattress the more it hurts your back.
-Hope this helps, Andrew