Norah McIntire, L.Ac.
8950 Villa La Jolla Drive
Suite B-129
La Jolla, CA 92037

What is posture therapy?  

Posture therapy is the analysis of an individual’s posture and the design of an individualized exercise menu(s) to correct postural problems.

Posture therapy is based on the recognition that a body with good posture functions better than a body with poor posture. The body can regain healthy posture with corrective exercise therapy. Ideal posture allows the human body to enjoy health, physical ability, and longevity.

Correction of postural issues improves muscular function and internal organ function and decreases musculoskeletal pain resulting from incorrect positioning of the joints.

Who can benefit from postural therapy?

Posture therapy can help anyone interested in improving her/his posture, but is especially good for people who experience various types of pain: headaches, neck pain, back pain, bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, jaw pain, foot pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, etc.

People who do not suffer from pain can also benefit because improved posture translates into more efficient daily functioning and helps prevent future problems. Athletes have good reason to seek postural therapy because improved posture enhances sports performance and decreases chances of injury.

How often do I have to do my exercises?

Ideally the exercises should be done daily. I work with you to create an exercise menu that works realistically with your schedule.

How is posture therapy different from yoga or stretching exercises?

While many of the exercises are based on yoga postures, the exercises have been modified in many cases to use particular muscle groups. The exercises are also done in a certain order to regulate specific muscle groups based on each person’s postural issues.

Posture therapy consists of exercises for the entire body, not just the area of discomfort. Postural therapy takes a broader view and asks why one area of the body is painful or tense. What is happening in the rest of the body that affects the painful or tense area? For instance, are there weak muscles in one hip that prevent the shoulders from being carried properly? Do tense muscles in one leg change the curve of the back? Exercises are then designed to correct all factors that contribute to the problem and apply to the entire body.

What should I expect at my first appointment?

During the first appointment, I examine your posture and put you through a series of basic exercises designed to reveal how your body’s muscles are or are not functioning. Based on this information, I design a series of exercises to help restore function to the entire body. Posture therapy appointments last approximately one and a half hours to allow time for instruction about the proper form of the exercises.

Can I use posture therapy with acupuncture?

Absolutely. Acupuncture helps musculoskeletal problems by helping to relax muscle tension, clear inflammation and improve circulation. This can be helpful in easing pain and discomfort. Posture therapy helps correct the underlying problem that created the pain and discomfort in the first place. Together these therapies address pain and dysfunction by relieving the acute symptoms and correcting the underlying imbalance to prevent the return of the pain and dysfunction.



© Copyright 2009 Norah McIntire, L.Ac. All Rights Reserved by the Author.