Back, neck and shoulder pain frequently occur when the body tries to compensate for weak or underused muscles. “Lower back pain is the most common complaint from new clients…[also] vertigo…TMJ (jaw pain), rotator cuff problems and neck, shoulder, knee and foot pain.” He adds that while many patients are at first skeptical as to the relationship between posture and, say, jaw pain, they often feel relief after just one session.


After a thorough postural evaluation from an Egoscue therapist, the client receives a “menu,” or series of exercises and stretches called E-cises. While the specific exercises often do not appear directly related to the pain site—for example, thigh strengtheners and/or an upper back stretch may be prescribed for lower back pain—they are based on the muscles that are currently moving improperly. Muscles that may be compensating or substituting for other muscles now return to performing their proper roles, which in turn relieves the pain.