How To Improve Posture for Seniors and the Elderly

Arm Ups

How to improve posture in seniors and the elderly? Let’s take a look at the basics. Proper posture is essential for correct performance of your daily activities and exercises.

Poor posture includes shoulders that are forward, chin that is jutting out in front, and standing with bend knees and hips. This position will result in a curved, slouching back posture along with a poor walking pattern of landing flat footed.

Good posture is a learned habit. How many times has someone told you to sit up straight? Likely it was your mother.

She knew that proper posture will improve your balance, help your breathing, relieve pain in the cervical spine and shoulders and even assist your gastrointestinal tract to run more efficiently.

When standing, make sure your feet are slightly apart.Tighten your buttock muscles a little along with the abdominal muscles.

Raise the ribs and bring your shoulders back. Try this exercise below, arm ups, while you practice your good posture and see what a positive difference it makes in your day!

Purpose of this exercise

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.

Step 1

Sit or stand with arms at sides. Maintain a neutral spine.

Step 2

Breathe in as you raise your elbows to shoulder height. Bring your shoulder blades together. Return to the starting position and repeat 10 times.

Breathing

Inhale during the upward movement phase. Exhale during the downward movement phase.

Tips

Keep your hands in front of your chest. Try to keep your shoulders relaxed and down during the exercise. Keep your chin tucked in during the movement.

Take it up a notch

After you raise our elbows up to shoulder height, pause then continue to raise your hands toward the ceiling, pause then bring them down to the starting position.

ELDERGYM®