Rounded back and hunched shoulders.

[countessbabycham]

Is anyone able to suggest some specific exercises to help correct this or any other suggestions?

TIA!

It depends on whether it's a muscular problem or a skeletal. A lot of peple have a curved back, it's called lordosis. Pilates is very helpful but it may be worth while getting it checked by your GP incase it's a scoliosis type condition that requires treatment (it depends on the severity of it). It's hard to say without seeing it though as it depends on the severity and where abouts the back is affected. Am I making sense?

Its definately muscular - presumably down to weakness of one or more sets of muscles,but I don't know which!It's the comfortable position to be in,which I know it shouldn't be,and it'd be great to know how to work on it to make the correct position 'natural'.

Pilates will really help to balance them all out. It sounds painful.

I have this and its good. It addresses different problem postrues, including yours.

If it's causing you real pain I would recommend a referral to a physio. If muscles are really weak, going straight into Pilates can be too much. A physio should help you with exxercises to build you up to pilatesness.

It's generally not at all painful until later in the day when I have a tendency to upper backache.I'm used to it as its been that way all my adult life and I find it far more uncomfortable trying to keep my shoulders down and back.I had physio fot it about 20 years ago but at that foolish age I wasn't committed to the long since forgotten exercises,which I regret enormously.

I do have a pilates DVD (no classes I can get to) so I should get it out of its wrapper really.I wonder if all the exercises would help,by default,as I know it strengthens the core,or whether I also need something targetted too.Do you do Pilates belle?

X posted latrucha.That looks brilliant.Thanks! I have the 10 minute solutions Pilates Perfect Body DVD.

I wonder if I would have any joy asking GP for a physio referral.I really don't want to end up looking further and further over and getting a hump,possibly,as I age.Frightening,really.

You need classes really. The teacher will assess you and find out which muscles are affected. She/he will then give you the appropriate exercises. I don't do it, ds did though. He's hypermobile and had problems with his balance. It's really, really helped. The Pilates Foundation web site will give you a list of teachers in your area.

It's strange you say that belle as my DD is hypermobile and I recognise some things in myself that have defined her hypermobility.

I do go to yoga - and its never really occured to me to ask my yoga teacher for some specific exercises to do at home.Duh [blush}.

Perhaps that'd be a good place to start as although I know there are Pilates classes in the area I can't get there.

Thanks for all your suggestions belle.TBH I didn't think I'd get any replies!

Sometimes muscles overcompensate for others so it knocks them all out of sink. You need exercises that will balance them out but you need to find out which ones are affected first. I'd look for a teacher who can do a couple of 1:1 sessions rather then a class as your exercises will need to be specific to you. You can then have joint classes.

I'm pleased I could help Best of luck.