So when I ride (or drive my car or do pretty much anything,…) I tend to drop my left shoulder. If I consciously think about it, I can keep good posture, but as soon as I am thinking about anything else, boom goes my shoulder. Anyone have any tips or ideas to help?
Basically, just keep thinking about it. If you can start to correct it when not riding, then it will translate to when you are riding. I had to do with with my posture while driving (I used to drive 2.5 hours a day to work). I kept bringing my left foot up and it was making me drop my right hip, causing (or exacerbating) some back and knee issues. Every single time I caught myself with my foot in, I put my foot back out. It seriously took months to fix and I occasionally still catch myself doing it. Now I am trying to fix my seat in the saddle because at a recent lesson I was told I ride with my left seat bone forward/right back and I am having trouble using my legs evenly. It’s extremely difficult to fix because it also puts me off balance from how my muscles have developed. Just know that at first you will feel like you are overcompensating - have someone or a mirror to show you where you are even, because it will feel like you are doing it too much. It will take time to fix and that you go into that position because it is what it is used to. Have you tried stretching/yoga/gym exercises that work on your back and shoulders? It might help them develop more evenly while you work through this.
You could try applying KT tape until those muscles get stronger and more used to staying engaged. I have super weak right rhomboid eg al., and the tape both reminds me to keep my shoulder down and back and supports my weak muscles so I can do it for longer.
This is something an equicube can help with, as you will be able to feel it quickly if you’re not even.
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Do you workout at all? Exercise — like intentional, targeted exercise, not just walking the block — will help improve uneven or weak posture. It would be great if you work in front of a mirror and/or with another person who tell you if you’re moving symmetrically. I’m right handed and I have often caught my left arm being a little off when I check myself in the mirror.
I would suggest different types of fly and row exercises with hand weights were you can work on moving both sides identically and in unison. Lat pull downs are good for strengthening the shoulders as well.
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Sometimes it works better to think about dropping the right shoulder, instead of trying to raise the left shoulder.
Also, I never put my handbag over my right shoulder.
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That would drive me crazy! I always put mine over the right shoulder. I used to wonder if it had something to do with always carrying my kids on my right hip when they were little! lol
well then, THAT explains why you are riding with your right shoulder higher than your left.
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I also drop my left shoulder, but I have realized that the problem isn’t just with my left shoulder. I actually collapse the left side of my body, which pushes my left seat bone over to the right and shortens my left leg too. For me, it is sometimes easier to work on fixing my seat bones, which then fixes the collapse, and then magically my shoulders are more even.
Just something to consider - is the problem limited to your shoulders? Or are there also radiating effects, some of which might be easier for you to “check in” on while you are riding?
Pilates (core exercises) and strength training. Even Yoga will help. Anything to make you more aware of your body position and proper breathing. Which will also benefit your riding. And buy a satchel style handbag - avoid over-the-shoulder types.
So funny, I have the same issue on my right shoulder. Droops. Really terrible looking in a shirt with horizontal stripes. Thanks for the suggestions!
Very good point! I do tend to ‘lose’ my left leg sometimes, if i’m not centered properly on the horse. At one point, someone pointed out to me years ago that my right hip was pushing ahead (this was years ago, and I’ve since realized that this person was not being nice!) But it made me super conscious of trying to keep my body straight, and by doing so I’ve totally messed up my posture over the years! It became a never ending loop of trying too hard to get straight, and then not knowing if I was or not, and conditioning my body to not be able to tell, if that makes any sense.
I like the suggestions of strength and core training, and yoga! If I can actually motivate myself to do it will be another story!
One thing that worked today, lol, was wearing the wrong bra to ride. If i didn’t keep my shoulders back, my left boob would fall out! Picture that!!
I tend to do this EXACT thing. I went to a chiropractor and my pelvis was crooked by about an inch. That was causing/contributing to crookedness in my upper body. Going regularly plus being aware of it (and my trainer yelling at me of course) has helped a ton. I now mostly just do it when I lose focus on it because I’m thinking about something else, like asking for a lead change, or moving up in a line. It takes constant awareness but can be fixed! Start with a chiropractor, but get recommendations from people you trust, and go to one who will take x-rays your first visit.
