Physiotherapy for Postural Problems & Muscle Imbalances in Bradford

Desk work, driving and repetitive tasks shape the body over time. Some muscles become strong and tight, others weak and underused, and the result is posture that causes neck and shoulder tightness, mid-back pain and headaches. At WellCare Medical in Bradford, physiotherapy for postural problems and muscle imbalances retrains the way you move and builds endurance in the muscles that hold you up, so good posture becomes automatic and does not have to be forced.

Muscles work in pairs and groups around each joint. When one side is much tighter or stronger than the other, the joint is pulled off centre. Typical examples:

• tight chest muscles and weak upper-back muscles, giving rounded shoulders
• tight muscles at the back of the neck and weak deep neck muscles, giving a forward head
• tight hip flexors and weak gluteal muscles, giving an arched lower back
• one side of the body doing more of the work than the other

• aching that builds through the day and eases with movement
• neck, shoulder or mid-back tightness after sitting
• tension headaches
• fatigue when standing or sitting upright
• one shoulder or hip that looks higher than the other

• Mobility where you are stiff: the mid-back, hips and ankles are common culprits
• Strength where you are weak: shoulder-blade muscles, deep neck muscles, core and gluteals
• Movement retraining: learning to sit, lift, reach and carry using the right muscles
• Ergonomic coaching: your workstation, driving position, phone habits and sleep
• Habits that stick: short movement breaks and simple cues tied to things you already do

The emphasis is on endurance. Posture muscles need to work at a low level all day, so the exercises are easy to do but repeated often.

Your physiotherapist looks at your posture standing and sitting, tests muscle length and strength, and watches how you perform basic movements. They ask about your working day in detail. You will get a clear picture of which muscles need loosening and which need strengthening, and a short program to start with.

See your doctor if your posture has changed quickly, if you have lost height, if a spinal curve is getting worse, or if you have numbness, weakness or pain that wakes you at night.

Our chiropractor treats the stiff spinal joints that limit posture (see chiropractic treatment for poor posture), and our massage therapists release the tight muscle groups (see massage for postural imbalances). If your job is the main cause, read about physiotherapy for work-related injuries. Where foot position affects alignment, custom orthotics may help (a family doctor's referral is recommended).