Since I got Valeria I have seen my posture change. Even though I am really trying to keep up with exercises, there is only so much I can do to prevent my shoulders from rounding. Definitely in comparison with carrying 10 kilogram for an hour or more, every day. One of the techniques I use is switching her from my left to right arm every now and then. Or carrying her with two arms and keeping her close to my body, instead of on my hip.
The term rounded shoulders is used to describe a resting shoulder position that has moved forward from the body’s ideal alignment. Rounded shoulders, sometimes known as “mom posture,” can get worse if left untreated. There are a few simple exercises that can help keep your shoulders in their correct position and relieve the stress caused by slumping.
Moms are not the only ones afflicted by the token rounded shoulders, but there is a reason why it is named for us. Between nursing, carrying babies in our arms, and carrying all kinds of things that come with babies and kids, our bodies are strained in such a way that we begin to hunch over all the time.
Daily tasks that may contribute to rounded shoulders include:
- using a smartphone or tablet
- using a computer or laptop
- sitting for long periods – or breastfeeding?
- driving a vehicle
- bending over repeatedly – aka picking up your baby
- carrying heavy objects all day – trying to get your baby to sleep with rocking
The risks of rounded shoulders include the negative impact they can have on your looks, but more importantly on your health. It can cause increased stress on the shoulder joints which causes pain around the neck and upper back.
Try these exercises to help stretch and strengthen your tight chest and shoulders.