Shoulder Circles

Correcting bad posture exercises for seniors and the elderly like the shoulder circles exercise below can help with positioning your shoulders in the correct position.

I really like this exercise for this reason. Whenever you feel your posture slipping, feel your shoulders coming forward and chin slipping forward, try “setting” your shoulders with this exercise.

When you are at your desk for more than 20 minutes, take a break and lift your shoulders up, back, and down. Then keep your shoulders in this position for as long as you think about it. In another 20 minutes, set your shoulders again. Try it and feel how much better you are sitting or standing.

Purpose of this exercise

Improve the flexibility of your shoulders and rib cage.Helps bring your spine into a better erect posture.This is a great exercise to do to “set” your spine and shoulders during the day.

Step 1

Sit comfortably in a chair. Lift your ribs and relax your spine into a neutral position.

Step 2

Slowly raise your shoulders up, back and then down. Relax your shoulders and repeat 10 times.

Breathing

Breathe normally, in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Tips

Try breathing in as you raise your shoulders, lifting the ribs. Never hold your breath when exercising.

Look straight ahead and focus on “setting” your shoulders in the back and down position which is a good posture habit.

Take it up a notch

This exercise can be done with one pound weights in your hands. You will need a chair without arms for this option.

How to do Shoulder Circles

More Posture exercises

1. Arm Ups

• Improve the flexibility of your ribs to assist in breathing.
• Increase your ability to lift the ribs and bring the shoulders back into proper position.

2. Spine Extensions

• Helps correct faulty posture by bringing the spine into neutral, shoulders and chin back.
• Assists in the flexibility of the chest, improving respiration and lung functioning.

3. Chin Tuck And Jut

• Provides good feedback on correcting faulty posture habits.
• Strengthens the cervical retracting muscles for better support of good posture.

4.Shoulder Circles

• Improve the flexibility of your shoulders and rib cage.
• Helps bring your spine into a better erect posture.
• This is a great exercise to do to “set” your spine and shoulders during the day.

5. Shoulder Blade Squeeze

• Helps position your spine in a comfortable neutral position.
• Corrects faulty posture by positioning your shoulders below your ears.

6. Wall Tilts

• Helps bring your lower back into correct posture.
• Strengthens your pelvis and buttock muscles.

Resources Check For Safety
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI-Brochure-CheckForSafety-508.pdf