How massage therapy can help improve your posture

In today’s modern world, you may find yourself spending a significant portion of your day engaged in sedentary activities, such as working at a desk, using computers, or browsing on smartphones. This prolonged sitting, coupled with improper posture, can lead to a range of musculoskeletal conditions, including postural strain. This is a condition commonly referred to as upper cross syndrome and involves a combination of hyperkyphosis or “the hunchback posture” and forward head carriage or “tech neck”.

Upper cross syndrome commonly causes pain and discomfort in your neck and back. The ultimate solution to this would be to realign yourself into proper posture to relieve the strain placed on your muscles and joints. This is sometimes easier said than done when your body is used to this improper posture. After a while, you may feel stuck! This is because other muscles in your body tense up and shorten over time into this position, sometimes making it hard to get out of it and into your proper posture.

Getting assistance from a massage therapist will help you be able to get into the best positioning for your body. Here are 3 ways massage therapy can help bring you into better posture:

1. Lengthen shortened muscles.
   Massage therapy can help lengthen your muscles that are shortened and keeping you in that stuck position. Your massage therapist will use lengthening techniques to open up your chest and neck which will allow you to bring yourself back into proper alignment without feeling restricted.
2. Mobilizing your spine
   While in this slouched posture, your spine starts curving more than the healthy amount. Your spine likely gets stuck in this position and may need some gentle manual manipulation. Massage therapists are able to feel for these restrictions and gently mobilize your spine to help encourage it to realign into your healthy posture.
3. Strengthen weak muscles
   There are certain muscles with upper cross syndrome that are unable to bring you back into proper posture due to not having the strength to do so. The upper back (ex. rhomboids) and neck flexor muscles become over stretched and weak allowing your body to move deeper into this improper posture. Your massage therapist may use stimulation techniques and strengthening exercises to activate these muscles which will help give you the strength to not only achieve proper posture, but to be able to keep holding your posture throughout the day.

Moreover, your massage therapist will be able to provide you with postural exercises and tips to help you correct your posture at home.

Our massage therapist at Zoomers will work diligently to lengthen shortened muscles, mobilize your spine, and strengthen weak areas, helping you achieve better posture and alleviate your pain. If you’re experiencing discomfort from upper cross syndrome, take the step to book a massage therapy session today!