Spine Health
March 6, 2018 11:54 AM Subscribe
My work requires me to sit for extended periods of time, and while I try to stay conscientious of my posture, I constantly find myself slipping. I am considering getting one of those "posture correctors" (band that fits around the shoulders and torso). Are they effective?
Currently, I try to do yoga and walk around every fifteen minutes during prolonged sessions. But these are limiting.
I would ask my former chiropractor, but he tried to sell me on homeopathy, so he's out. Any health professionals care to opine, or know spine specialists who can provide a thing or two on the efficacy of these posture correctors?
Currently, I try to do yoga and walk around every fifteen minutes during prolonged sessions. But these are limiting.
I would ask my former chiropractor, but he tried to sell me on homeopathy, so he's out. Any health professionals care to opine, or know spine specialists who can provide a thing or two on the efficacy of these posture correctors?
Keep on doing yoga and taking walk breaks, those are great for all sorts of reasons including the posture thing.
I'd advise against posture correctors, because I think it could make you lazy about keeping up good posture and become reliant on external products. You want to build up strength and endurance in your core and back muscles that contribute to good posture... Think of it as your internal posture correctors. A good physical therapist would certainly be able to help you out with this.
posted by sweetpotato at 1:43 PM on March 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'd advise against posture correctors, because I think it could make you lazy about keeping up good posture and become reliant on external products. You want to build up strength and endurance in your core and back muscles that contribute to good posture... Think of it as your internal posture correctors. A good physical therapist would certainly be able to help you out with this.
posted by sweetpotato at 1:43 PM on March 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
I haven't tried a posture corrector. However, I find a lumbar support cushion very helpful for encouraging good posture when sitting in an office chair. This is the cushion I have, but there are lots out there: Relax-A-Bac Lumbar Cushion. I now automatically sit back in my chair and the cushion guides me into sitting upright. I also move the armrests to a very low position, so I'm not tempted to lean on one side.
posted by loop at 2:11 PM on March 6, 2018
posted by loop at 2:11 PM on March 6, 2018
I’m wearing one right now. The standard criticism is that it’s a crutch that allows you to continue to be lazy or whatever and never develop your rhomboids etc, buuuut...
Maybe that’s true if you only have a slight posture problem? But if like me you literally cannot get into proper posture on your own bc of all the structural fuckery going on, it’s super useful (so far!) for showing you how proper posture should feel.
And my mid-upper back is definitely feeling the fatigue. The straps only do so much, and it’s more that they remind you to try to correct yourself. So we’ll see. But I’m definitely working right now.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:22 PM on March 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
Maybe that’s true if you only have a slight posture problem? But if like me you literally cannot get into proper posture on your own bc of all the structural fuckery going on, it’s super useful (so far!) for showing you how proper posture should feel.
And my mid-upper back is definitely feeling the fatigue. The straps only do so much, and it’s more that they remind you to try to correct yourself. So we’ll see. But I’m definitely working right now.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:22 PM on March 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
i started working out about a year ago, and my posture has noticeably (to me) improved. i have a trainer and we do HIIT and light weight training.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 2:37 PM on March 6, 2018
posted by misanthropicsarah at 2:37 PM on March 6, 2018
Posture corrector band for the short-term, desk/workstation ergonomics upgrade and working out and/or physical therapy for the long-term.
posted by danceswithlight at 8:20 PM on March 6, 2018
posted by danceswithlight at 8:20 PM on March 6, 2018
A large exercise or yoga ball will require you to sit with correct posture and in addition will strengthen your balance and core muscles which will improve it overall even when not sitting.
posted by OnefortheLast at 8:58 PM on March 6, 2018
posted by OnefortheLast at 8:58 PM on March 6, 2018
It looks like it's a little spendy, but I've been seeing ads lately for posture reminder devices kicking around the internet lately. I can't personally vouch, but the reviews are mostly positive.
FWIW, I've been using a free app called Stand Up! for the past few months to remind myself to get up and move around more at work, and that's been going pretty well both as a "hey, get up" reminder and inadvertently as a "fix your spine" reminder. You can set the reminders to go off as frequently as every five minutes if that sounds like something you might want to add into your already-awesome spine health regimen. Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 7:49 AM on March 7, 2018
FWIW, I've been using a free app called Stand Up! for the past few months to remind myself to get up and move around more at work, and that's been going pretty well both as a "hey, get up" reminder and inadvertently as a "fix your spine" reminder. You can set the reminders to go off as frequently as every five minutes if that sounds like something you might want to add into your already-awesome spine health regimen. Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 7:49 AM on March 7, 2018
Lifting weights and doing yoga has done wonders for my posture. Poor posture is just not as comfortable anymore.
I've definitely seen people who sit on exercise balls do so with terrible posture on a regular basis.
posted by mchorn at 6:02 PM on March 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've definitely seen people who sit on exercise balls do so with terrible posture on a regular basis.
posted by mchorn at 6:02 PM on March 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by Fig at 1:24 PM on March 6, 2018 [1 favorite]