@rball202 Jeff, have you tried any physical therapy to address your posture? Sometimes it can help. I have done therapy with a gal who also does myofascial release. My dad had kyphosis, and doing some MFR did help him a bit, but it didn't last because he was elderly and wouldn't change his habits.

The front of the chest can get too tight and we do so much with our arms in a forward position and we can get stuck like that. It helps to stretch that out because it counters the back muscles that oppose the muscle on the front. What also helps me a lot is building core strength to support the spine, and the best way I do that is by horseback riding. I sit up with good posture and I have to counter all the movement from the horse just at a walk, and it exercises my back and core muscles all over. The more I do this, the stronger I get, and the stronger my legs are from balancing in the stirrups. There are therapeutic riding centers where you can work with a therapist, and they would not just turn you loose on a horse. You may want to ask your physician if this is within your capability.

I had to break my old habits too. When you are a spine surgical patient, it matters. Bad posture can stress your spine further above and below a fused level and lead to more surgery. There is always a tradeoff, and you will trade some motion ability for a more rigid spine, so there needs to be a significant reason to make that choice. My surgeon told me the best way to keep from needing his services again is to build and maintain core strength. This is best advised by a physical therapist or medical professional as to what exercise is safe for you to do.

Maybe you can avoid back surgery, but it will take work and dedication on your part. My surgery resulted from an injury from a whiplash that happened years ago.

Here is our discussion on myofascial release. The first pages have lots of links to information and there is a provider search at http://mfrtherapists.com/

- Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

Have you heard of MFR before? What do you think about this? Have you tried physical therapy for your back?

Jennifer