Weekend Challenge: Triple Posture Corrector - Save Our Bones

When it comes to posture, the upper back and shoulders play a very crucial role. Strengthen the muscles in these areas, and you can help prevent and correct kyphosis (Dowager’s Hump), and experience many other benefits.

This weekend’s exercise, the Triple Posture Corrector, is highly effective at strengthening upper back and shoulder muscles in every direction.

So let’s get started!

Why:

There’s no doubt that posture is a major concern for Savers, and this is understandable. When bone density decreases in the spine, the vertebrae can collapse and bend forward, creating the hunchbacked appearance associated with kyphosis. In addition, poor posture habits, such as forward head posture (FHP), can exacerbate and even cause kyphosis.

To prevent this from happening, it’s vital to strengthen the muscles of the upper back. Not only does this help with holding your vertebrae in place, but working these muscles also increases density in the shoulders and upper back, as per Wolff’s Law.

Let’s take a look at some of these muscles that keep you “standing tall.”

  • The Trapezius muscle is arguably the most important muscle when it comes to posture. It fans out across the upper back and shoulders in a wide diamond shape, covering a lot of area. It even goes up into the neck where it stabilizes the cervical vertebrae and helps hold your head up.

    Weak traps allow the spine and shoulder blades to roll forward. And of course, weak muscles are not putting bone-stimulating pressure on the bones around them.

    The position of the shoulder blades (scapulae) is of utmost importance when it comes to healthful posture. No movement of the shoulders takes place without involving the trapezius, so exercises like the Triple Posture Corrector will affect more motion and movements than I can even list here!

  • The Rhomboid is named for its rhombus shape, and is a rather deep muscle that connects your shoulder blades to your thoracic vertebrae. As you might expect, this small muscle has a big job – aligning the shoulder blades with the thoracic vertebrae is foundational to proper posture.
  • The Latissimus dorsi, or lats, are very large muscles (“latissimus” actually means “broad”). They lie along your sides and back, running under your arms, and along your ribs and spine. They are so long that they attach from the thoracic vertebrae all the way to the very base of your spine, at your sacral vertebrae. So these muscles are comprehensive when it comes to posture, helping you sit up straight from the “bottom up.”

    Interestingly, the lats have an inverted attachment at the insertion point, which is under your arm. This means when your arm is hanging by your side, the muscle has a twist between your side and your arm. When you raise your arm, the muscle untwists. Today’s exercise stretches and works these large, important muscles.

    Tight lats can cause a forward arch in the back and a “pooched out” lower abdomen. Working these muscles not only strengthens them; it also lengthens and makes them suppler, allowing you to keep a proper arch in your back.

  • As you can see, the Triple Posture Corrector covers a lot of postural ground! Here’s how to do it.

    How:

    You don’t need any special equipment to do this exercise, but if you like more of a challenge, you can use hand weights.

    1. Kneel down on the floor, carpet, or exercise mat. If this is uncomfortable, you can do this exercise while standing; just “hinge” at your hips. (You’ll see what I mean in a moment.) Your knees or feet should be shoulder-width apart.
    2. Lean forward at your hips, keeping your back straight. Your tummy should be “tucked” and your spine straight.
    3. Bring your arms out and down in front of you. Position your hands in the “thumbs-up” sign, and spread your arms outward, slightly past your knees.
    4. Slowly raise your arms up above your head, making a “Y” shape. Your arms shouldn’t go past your ears.
    5. Bring your arms back down, and then bring them up and out by pulling your shoulder blades back and together, making a “T” shape at shoulder level.
    6. Bring your arms down again, and then bring your hands back behind your hips and bottom, squeezing your shoulder blades. This is called the “I” shape, because you’re making a straight line with your arms and back.
    7. Repeat steps four, five, and six for eight to 10 times. If you can only do a few at first, no problem.

    To tackle posture from yet another angle, I recommend you follow this exercise with The Anti- Sloucher.

    And if you’d like more exercises that are specifically designed to increase your bone density and improve your posture, you can get all the information here.

    Take Exercising For Your Bones to the Next Level!

    Learn the 52 exercise moves that jumpstart bone-building – all backed by the latest in epigenetics research.

    Learn More Now →

    Have a great weekend!

The Top 14 Things You’re Doing That Are Damaging Your Bones... And More!

  • Stop The Bone Thieves! report
  • Email course on how to prevent and reverse bone loss
  • Free vital osteoporosis news and updates.
Get It Free Now

Comments on this article are closed.

  1. Teresa Ochoa

    Thanks again for these great exercises, specially because it is very important to have a good posture when you are sitting or standing. One of the reasons that i developed problems with my upper back, called the thoracic outlet syndrome is bad posture habits, now i am trying every single way to keep a good posture, and your exercises according to my doctor are incredible helpful.

  2. Betty

    May I have an order form for more TrueOsteo Advanced Bone Support Capsules please? Thank you.

  3. chris

    I have fusion and fractures from T4 thru T10 vertebrae. Should I avoid these exercises?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      It’s a good idea to stick with exercises you’re comfortable with, Chris. When in doubt, check with the doctor who did your fusion surgery to clarify which moves are best for you.

  4. shula

    THANKS

  5. Margaret

    This would seem very challenging for people who already have Head Forward Syndrome. Any suggestions? Where is starting point for arms in standing position?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Margaret, only do the exercises that you are comfortable with 🙂 If you want to try it standing up, then follow the same directions and start with the letter “Y”.

  6. Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

    You’re very welcome, Roxanne!

  7. Roxanne

    Fantastic exercise, Vivian! Just tried it and boy, did I feel those upper back muscles (and shoulders too) work… I thank you for all you do.

Get Started With Your FREE
Natural Bone Building Kit.

Get a free copy of our ‘Stop The Bone Thieves’ eBook, exclusive content that you can’t find anywhere else, plus vital osteoporosis news and updates.

Get It Free

Get Your Free Bone-Building Kit

FREE

‘Stop The Bone Thieves’ guide, exclusive info, plus vital osteoporosis news and updates.