Posture problems
Standing up straight for a minute in the mirror doesn’t fix posture. The muscles holding you in a slouch usually need to change before the shape of your spine will.
What people usually describe
- A hunch at the top of your back that’s become the default
- Tightness across your chest and the front of your shoulders
- A head that sits forward of your shoulders by the end of the day
- Catching yourself slouching again, minutes after correcting it
Not just standing tall
Correcting posture in the mirror for a minute rarely changes anything, because the muscles holding you in that shape are still doing the same job an hour later. We start with an honest assessment of how you’re actually built and how you move, sometimes using a model like this one to show exactly which muscles are pulling where, then work on loosening what’s tight and waking up what’s gone quiet. The goal is a body that holds itself upright without you thinking about it, not a posture you have to remember to perform.
What's usually behind it
Three things usually build on each other over time, which is why posture rarely improves just by being told to stand up straight.
Hours in one shape
Long stretches at a screen or a phone train your body into one position. The muscles that hold that shape get strong, and the muscles that would pull you upright get quiet.
Muscles carrying ongoing tension
Tight, overworked muscles across the chest and shoulders pull you forward, often before you’ve noticed any change in how you’re sitting or standing.
Old habits that stick
Once a slouch becomes your default, your body stops noticing it as unusual. Standing up straight starts to feel like effort rather than normal.
How we'd approach it
A posture that’s built up over years rarely changes from being told to stand up straight. We work on what’s actually keeping you in that shape.
At your first visitWe assess your posture and how your spine and shoulders move, so we can see what’s actually holding the pattern in place.
What treatment usually includesGentle adjustment where you need it, plus hands-on work on the muscles that have gone tight.
Between visitsExercises for the muscles that have gone quiet, and a couple of practical changes to how you sit and work.
One step at a time
A first visit starts with a proper look at your posture, your spine and how you move, not just a reminder to sit up straight. If we think this needs a different kind of care, we’ll say so.
