Grace Hopper Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 …developing a text neck/dowager’s hump/ pain in the neck? My schedule has allowed me to spend more time reading lately and I’ve noticed this becoming an issue. Do any of you use something to prop up your books, or have a reading chair with good ergonomics to alleviate this issue? I’d love to hear if anyone has ideas for avoiding becoming a hunchback while still being able to read a lot. I’m sure my dh could come up with a book holding contraption, should I challenge him to come up with something, but hoping I don’t have to resort to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Yoga. It makes you aware of posture and gives counter-stretches to the forward curve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace Hopper Posted September 5, 2023 Author Share Posted September 5, 2023 1 minute ago, Laura Corin said: Yoga. It makes you aware of posture and gives counter-stretches to the forward curve. Do you practice daily? I do a restorative class about 3 times a week, but probably need to add a short routine morning and evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 1 minute ago, Grace Hopper said: Do you practice daily? I do a restorative class about 3 times a week, but probably need to add a short routine morning and evening. Things are crazy busy at present but normally I start the day with sun salutations. Even just standing with my palms facing slightly forwards helps to reset my posture. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 I do daily yoga too, plus I always prop my book/device on a pillow. It’s not my next that bothers me, but my back. I also try make sure I’m sitting in a chair with decent support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmyboys Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 I think I mostly read in a reclined position on the couch or recliner. I also mostly use a kindle now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 I mostly read in bed, flat on my back. What I have to worry about is breaking my nose from dropping my Kindle . . . 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toocrazy!! Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 I read flat on my back on my kindle too. But I saw an easy stretch for this the other day- lie flat on your back with your knees at a 90 degree angle on a chair or couch or something. Looks like it would feel good! Said to hold for 5 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 My physical therapist said I need to really watch my posture when sitting. I ended up with a bulging disc in my neck that caused nerve pain. It's mostly resolved now, but I am much more aware of when I am slumped over, because it tends to aggravate it. His advice was to get up often and walk around. I try to put a pillow or something behind my back/neck sometimes to keep my neck straight, and that means I need to lift the book higher as if I was trying to walk and read at the same time. It's not ideal, so I am all ears as to how people avoid this. 😃 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace Hopper Posted September 5, 2023 Author Share Posted September 5, 2023 40 minutes ago, cintinative said: My physical therapist said I need to really watch my posture when sitting. I ended up with a bulging disc in my neck that caused nerve pain. It's mostly resolved now, but I am much more aware of when I am slumped over, because it tends to aggravate it. His advice was to get up often and walk around. I try to put a pillow or something behind my back/neck sometimes to keep my neck straight, and that means I need to lift the book higher as if I was trying to walk and read at the same time. It's not ideal, so I am all ears as to how people avoid this. 😃 Sorry about your neck! Sounds painful! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 My restorative yoga guru tells us that everybody, but particularly women > 40, really benefit from ensuring that our legs are higher than our backs & neck for at least 10 minutes a day. Like, in class we scoot our butts right up next to a wall and just lie there on our backs with our legs propped up the wall. TBH I feel too ridiculous to incorporate this into a daily at home routine (...) but there's no reason one couldn't read in that position. Beware the kindle breaking your nose, however... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace Hopper Posted September 5, 2023 Author Share Posted September 5, 2023 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Pam in CT said: My restorative yoga guru tells us that everybody, but particularly women > 40, really benefit from ensuring that our legs are higher than our backs & neck for at least 10 minutes a day. Like, in class we scoot our butts right up next to a wall and just lie there on our backs with our legs propped up the wall. TBH I feel too ridiculous to incorporate this into a daily at home routine (...) but there's no reason one couldn't read in that position. Beware the kindle breaking your nose, however... My instructor is the same about getting those legs up, and we do the same scootch to the wall; she’ll come around and drape a blanket over my (our) feet while in this pose. I could seriously take a nap like that. But not sure I could read that way. Our studio has a bar on one wall for barre classes, and she once had us loop a strap around the bar and then put our feet in the strap (feet in the air, head against the wall, body in an L), which provided a little stretch for the lower back while those feet were up. My imagination has gone interesting places trying to figure out how to best recreate this at home. Belts, mats, newel and bedposts… 😂 Edited September 5, 2023 by Grace Hopper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathyl Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 I don't do yoga, but I prop my feet up on the dashboard of the car whenever I'm waiting for dh or ds. Put the seat all the way back and a travel pillow under my head and both feet on the dash and play with my phone or listen to the radio. It really does seem to make me feel more 'straight' posture-wise. Not to mention it's great for circulation. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 (edited) I had a yoga teacher who would put little sandbags on our feet when our legs were up on the wall. The added weight felt really good for some reason. Edited September 6, 2023 by livetoread 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 I got an audible subscription and now I listen to some of my books. I also use the library whenever possible. I still read print books, mostly on my iPad, but I consume more books with less sitting by adding audio books. Anything read by the author is a great candidate for this. Also, books with lots of foreign names or unfamiliar words are great for audio because you don’t get slowed down looking up pronunciations. You can also listen while driving. At my age, converting a sedentary activity to an active one can only help. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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