Why do I have less pain when I slouch than when I sit up?

When I try to sit up straight and do the exercises that supposedly improve my posture my head begins to hurt and I get headaches. I get strains and pains in my neck and middle back. But when I slouch and just sit how I usually sit all my pains go away. Isn’t sitting up straight suppose to be good for you not bad?

You’ve been slouching so long, you’ve stretched out all of your lower back muscles, and probably your spinal column, the vertebrae could be all out of alignment. Most likely, your core (stomach) muscles are probably weak, and those are what you also need to help hold yourself upright. Unless you have some sort of injury to your back/neck, what you’re feeling is weakened muscles from lengthy poor posture. It’s hurting because you are using muscles you are not used to using, and Are you doing the exercises right? You have to have correct posture to do each exercise, in order to effectively correct the problem, and avoid injury. Might need to see someone like a physical trainer for some tips on how to get yourself in shape. Of course new exercise is uncomfortable…that’s why no one likes to do it, and most give up. That’s why you have to keep on doing it to get past the point of difficulty, and you’ll actually start feeling the results.

Posture Pilates: Improve and maintain your postural awareness