"Shoulders Back" doo-dah

[Butterbean]

Has anyone used one of these things to help improve their posture while riding?

Saw some pics of my riding yesterday & OMG I just look like a twisted hunchback !!!

Have just about every positional fault in the book & probably invented some new ones, but think the worst thing was my hunched & twisted shoulder position. Have booked an extra lesson with my instructor & going to ask her to try to sort me out but thought one of these Shoulders Back things might help as well?
Any experiences of them or comments on improving position welcome.

 

[pagancluf]

Some of my friends say that riding with their body protector on helps the shoulder position?

 

[Serephin]

I have one - to be honest i have hardly used it but thats cos I am really lazy when it comes to remembering to use things like that. The two occassions I did use it, it really pulled my shoulders back (funnily enough) and did help with my posture.

I am going to sell it, cos I never use it - PM me if you are interested

 

[Walder]

can we see the pics of the hunchback please..............????????????

 

[Jemayni]

My Mum had this problem, her instructor told her to go to a physiotherapist & it turned out she had something wrong with the mucles in her shoulder - apparently it is a real common problem, particulalry if ypu have an office job or have had children! Her position is now a thousand times better. Food for thought.....

 

[soph21]

before i got to the bottom of the page i was going to ask if you had children?!!! apparently so they say everyone is uneven in a different way, i sit more to the right apparently so my instructor says and ive got a child

 

[Butterbean]

No photos, too embarrassing! But interestingly have just found pic of me taken couple of years ago on my other horse where i'm doing the exact same tipped forward / leg back / twisty shoulder thing.

Do get very tense in the shoulders & neck - spend most of the day in front of a PC, and get tense at work, which won't help. Should probably start going to yoga again, which did help, but for instant results & to shock my muscles, think I'll try one of these contraptions.

Body protector would do no good as I find I feel like I tip forward more in it.

 

[Butterbean]

No, no children , do they wreck your shoulders as well ?

 

[MagicMelon]

I have one but I forget to use it most of the time! It can make my shoulders ache a bit after a while (probably because they're not used to being in the "correct" place!).

It is good, but I do find its not the most comfy thing in the world. I think it works by simply being a bit uncomfortable so you consiously know you have it on so you make an effort to keep your shoulders back. It doesnt force them into the position if you know what I mean!