Most people who know they don't have the best posture or have been told they need to improve their posture, have been told that to see improvements in their posture they need to "strengthen their core". The "core" most of these people are talking about is the abdominal muscles and sometimes they will include the glutes and occasionally other hip muscles. Most people with bad posture have an excessively rounded upper back which causes their head and shoulders to round forward like this:
Kyphosis (rounded upper back) causing head and shoulders to round forward - Kendall
The problem with strengthening this man's abdominals is that as his abdominals get stronger they will pull him into an even more rounded position. Strengthening his glutes can also exasperate the problem by tucking his pelvis under causing his upper back to curve even more.
Another major problem with strengthening the core is if someone has a pelvic disparity, like an elevated hip (seen below), you just end up strengthening that person's postural imbalances not correcting them.
Another major problem with strengthening the core is if someone has a pelvic disparity, like an elevated hip (seen below), you just end up strengthening that person's postural imbalances not correcting them.
Strengthening this persons core will not correct the elevated hip posture.
The key to improving someone's posture is not strengthening their core, but instead balancing their joint position by addressing muscular imbalances up and down their entire body. Once their posture is improved and balanced, core strengthening exercises can be beneficial.
Remember this: Straighten then Strengthen.
Remember this: Straighten then Strengthen.
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