Omlet cube and run

[Chucky Mama]

I wonder if anyone has any help or advise for me. I have a 13 year old son who is going to be a tall lad, he is 5 10ish at the moment and has what I consider awful posture. I keep on at him to sit up, stand up straight etc but it is a constant battle. He is skinny to the point of looking like a cruelty case and I do wonder if he needs to do some sort of exercises to build up muscles to help with his posture. He feels that it is uncomfortable to stand tall and sit up straight. He is quite a 'slouchy' person and it most comfortable sitting bent double with his back bent. I really want to get to grips with this while he is young.

[Snowy]

It probably is uncomfortable for him to sit/stand up straight, due to lack of muscle tone strong enough to support his frame. You are right to try to educate him now as it's the tall, lanky ones who do tend to be more at risk of back pain as there is so much more of them to support!

Exercise will definitely help - could he join a gym? He needs to strengthen his core abdominal muscles as well as his back muscles. Pilates and yoga are great for these, and for posture, but not sure how acceptable they would be to a teenage boy!

[Olly]

Alexander Technique would be brilliant, but equally unlikely to appeal to a 13 year old! Sport is probably the answer, what about something like fencing or a martial art where correct posture would be part of the training?

[Snowy]

I used to have great posture from horse riding - bit expensive, but may be worth a try?

[Lavenders_Blue]

I used to have great posture from horse riding - bit expensive, but may be worth a try?

 

Exactly what I was going to suggest Snowy. I have ridden, and still do, since I was 5 years old and people regularly comment on what great posture I have. It's fab for working on core strength.

[Redwing]

Another vote for riding here too I was made to ride without stirrups and no reins with a garden cane across my back and under my arms

[Snowy]

Another vote for riding here too I was made to ride without stirrups and no reins with a garden cane across my back and under my arms

 

I certainly did the no stirrups and reins bit, but my riding instructor was never that sadistic!

[Willow]

Another vote for riding to strengthen core muscles, also punting if you are anywhere near a river. Need all your core muscles in slight tension and to stand straight to punt.

[patsylabrador]

A large amount of army fitness is based on core muscle strength because it's vital. Soldiers stand well and are economical with how they use their bodies. I can recommend The Para Fitness Guide by Major Sam McGrath. It's thorough and inspiring for young men. He really does know what he's talking about.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My ES was a similar height at that age (now over 6' 2") and took up rowing about then. He is also very skinny but does have a lovely straight back. He's also taken up fell running, not sure if that helps with posture or not but wouldn't do any harm, I suppose.

[LolaLayla]

My YS is short but has poor posture too. I put it down to bending forward when carrying a huge rucksack of books to school and also playing computer games hunched over the keyboard. I have tried to encourage him to stand up straight but he doesn't pay much attention to me

I think swimming would help though as it would build up the shoulder and back muscles. I have suggested this to my YS but he is not really interested He does have a part time job now so less time is spent on the computer!

[squiffs]

My OH is a very skinny lanky guy, and he has excellent posture - he does boxing, but doesn't really get in the ring, and his muscle tone is very impressive. He puts on weight but never has flab!

[jlo]

DS is almost 17 and just over 6'. I think that he still has some height growing to do. He is also very thin. However, his posture seems to have improved since he took up climbing about three years ago. He also runs and generally keeps quite fit.

 

His upper body strength is pretty good for his age and, according to DD, his body is quite "fit" in the teenager's definition! He really loves his climbing still so maybe that might be something to have a go at?

[The Dogmother]

Alexander Technique, Pilates, riding or rowing will do the job, they all strengthen core muscles. While he needs to build muscle strength, he still needs to be careful as he's young and his bones etc still have growing to do so it's best not to overdo it.

 

Rosie used to slouch a lot and wouldn't (of course ) listen to me; a few years back she started learning street dance with a dancer friend of mine; her posture improved no end.

 

Let me at him... I'll have him standing properly

[Chucky Mama]

Thanks for all of the tips and advise. He already does a martial art which I am sure does help(is a Tae Kwon Do Black belt). He wouldn't be keen to ride or swim on a regular basis sadly but rowing/punting might be an option as will yogo as I have a programme on My Fitness Coach on Wii that he can do. It is encouraging to hear that it is probably a height/muscle ratio issue as he is the only one that hasn't responded to my nagging regarding posture and I think it is more that him choosing to slouch. I think that he needs some extra help so will get cracking on helping him build up some suitable muscles to support his long slim frame.

[whoopsie]

Maybe he needs a bit of assertiveness training too - it sounds like he isn't very confident to 'stand tall' which is normal (though frustrating) for a boy in his early teens. Mind you I think the martial arts will help though they can be quite insular.

 

cadets?