Posture corrector – action, effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages, price. Which posture corrector should you choose?

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As we read this article, chances are good that our shoulders are slightly hunched over, our lower back is rounded, and our torso muscles are not involved. If so, it may be comforting to know that this problem affects many people around the world. While we probably know very well that sitting upright or standing with arms outstretched and torso engaged is a posture we should pay attention to, sometimes our body does not always respond to what our mind tells us to do. Posture correctors come with help.

Why is correct posture so important?

Correct posture has many benefits. Not only does it allow you to build strength in the areas of the body that experience the most chronic pain (i.e. the lower back), it also helps relieve pressure on the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

Correct posture can also:

1. help us breathe better;
2. allows you to maintain the appropriate technique during exercise;
3. reduce the risk of injury when performing physical activity;
4. just make us look better.

Exercising and maintaining a correct posture contributes to your overall well-being and the ease of carrying out daily activities.

Most of us understand the importance of correct posture, but there are times when we forget to sit up straight or keep our spine in a neutral position. In such cases, posture correctors can be beneficial.

See also: Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin are not suitable for the treatment of chronic pain. They can do “more harm than good”

Posture corrector – how does it work?

The idea is that the posture corrector passively holds the shoulder blades in the retracted position, preventing a prolonged bad position of the shoulder blades, i.e. slouching.

Since the bad position of the shoulder blades occurs simultaneously (and works synergistically) with the forward head and bent posture of the spine, which characterize what is commonly understood as “incorrect posture”, the point is that by preventing slouching with a posture corrector, the overall posture will improve, which in turn should reduce the pain associated with it.

However, you should pay attention to the fact that the posture corrector may work slightly different depending on the model chosen. Posture correctors provide a physical restriction of slouching in a corset-like or bra-like design that restricts body movement in the neck, shoulder, and / or back areas when we begin to slouch. Some posture corrector models feature newer technologies such as sit-up vibration (orthopedic spider) and smartphone apps to track your progress.

See also: Are you slouching? Check what is the risk and how to get rid of the “round back” [INFOGRAPHY]

What to look for when choosing a posture corrector?

There are a few things to consider when deciding which posture corrector is right for you.

Encourage muscle activation

Definitely, the benefits come from bracing with the right support. However, stiffening is generally a double-edged sword. According to specialists, constant support of the spine in a certain position can cause spinal muscle atrophy. With this in mind, the goal of the posture corrector should be to activate the muscles. Therefore, a soft posture corrector is recommended, which will remind the body and our postural muscles of their optimal place.

The effectiveness of the posture corrector

Narrowing your search to posture correctors that focus on key areas can increase the effectiveness of your product. The most important areas of attitude are:

1. neck;
2. cervico-thoracic junction;
3. lower back.

For corrective exercises, you can use the Dynapad Sensor Cushion, available in various colors at Medonet Market.

Comfort of using the posture corrector

No matter how effective the posture corrector can be, if it is too uncomfortable, you may find it difficult to wear it. And if the posture corrector is not worn, the success factor becomes negligible.

Ease of use of the posture corrector

Professionals recommend posture correctors that do not require relying on the presence of another person to help us put on, take off and adjust the tension in our corrector. The ability to wear a posture corrector under or over your clothes is also a key feature when choosing the right model.

At Medonet Market, you can order the Vitolog posture corrector in the size of your choice.

Supported area

Posture correctors come in a variety of styles that support your neck, lower back, or your entire upper body. Make sure we choose the product that suits our needs and targets the area where we need the most support.

Posture corrector – how to use it?

While posture correctors can be helpful, they are not a long-term solution. Professionals note that posture correctors should only be used in the short term to help cultivate awareness of healthy posture, but not for long periods of time, which causes the muscles of the torso to weaken. It is often said that you don’t wear them for more than one to two hours a day.

Additionally, attention is drawn to the fact that the posture corrector should be an additional tool for posture correction. Experts recommend that active management should include at least periodic correction of posture during the day while sitting and a home exercise program including, among others, shoulder blade retraction exercises.

See also: Muscular dystrophy – types, treatment

Posture corrector – advantages and disadvantages

There are obvious advantages to using posture correctors.

1. Posture corrector can help improve posture: According to experts, one of the theoretical benefits of wearing posture correctors is that they can help improve posture by providing proprioceptive feedback to wearers who have a poor ability to detect the correct position of the shoulder blade during a clinical examination. This was thought to be the primary mechanism for improving shoulder posture in a study by Cole et al. of 2013 on the use of a posture corrector in athletes. It is noteworthy that while the study showed that shoulder posture did slightly improve when wearing the corrector, head posture did not improve.
2. Posture corrector can help you improve posture awareness: Moreover, posture corrector can help improve our awareness when it comes to bad posture. Most people slouch all day long looking at phone or computer screens. Wearing a corrector can serve as a much-needed reminder to sit up straight.

The use of a posture corrector also has disadvantages that should be kept in mind when deciding to use this solution.

1. A posture corrector can weaken your core muscles: While posture correctors provide feedback when part of the spine deviates from the neutral position of the spine, they are not directed towards the entire back. For example, if we have a sensor that buzzes when our upper back is slouching, it may end up compensating and slouching our lower back.
2. There is no scientific evidence confirming their effectiveness: It also points out that the evidence for the effectiveness of posture correctors is small with limited poorly designed studies under controlled conditions, for example in unreal situations and potentially biased when manufacturer-funded. According to specialists, further research is needed to confirm their validity.
3. Posture correctors are not very comfortable: Many people find posture correctors uncomfortable. They find them too restrictive, difficult to keep in place, and annoying.
4. Posture corrector can promote further pain: According to the researchers, prolonged passive stretching of the greater and less pectoral muscles could potentially cause the development of myofascial pain. In addition, the elongated segment of the pectoralis minor may itself compress the distal (subclavian) part of the brachial plexus.

Posture corrector – for whom?

The posture corrector is available in versions for children and adults and is recommended for people with protruding shoulder blades, a concave chest (kyphosis) and incorrect posture.

Posture corrector The spider is especially recommended for children in the period of growth and body shaping. In the case of adults, the posture corrector is especially recommended for people suffering from back pain. However, it should be borne in mind that the posture corrector will not eliminate existing diseases, but is only a prophylactic solution aimed at avoiding permanent lesions caused by improper posture.

In addition, those with previous diagnosis of congenital or acquired spinal abnormalities, cervical radiculopathy, brachial plexopathy, or nerve entrapment of the upper extremities, with any potential benefit of passively maintaining a receding shoulder blade posture would likely outweigh the possibility of inducing / exacerbating neurogenic pain should avoid the use of a posture corrector.

See also: What is corrective gymnastics?

Posture corrector – prices

You can purchase a posture corrector at orthopedic or medical equipment stores. The cost of a posture corrector is dependent on its size, the quality of the workmanship materials, the manufacturer and the construction. The cheapest posture correctors cost from PLN 20, but the most expensive models cost around PLN 400.

Posture corrector – frequently asked questions

Can a posture corrector “fix” years of poor posture?

While it may seem that at some point our abnormal attitude has become so firmly entrenched that nothing can be done about it, according to Heathline, with consistency, awareness, and dedication, improvement can be achieved in as little as 30 days. By incorporating yoga into your daily routine and exercises that focus on strength of the torso, you can improve your posture. For the comfort of exercise, order the AIREX Corona rehabilitation mat today.

Should we sleep with a posture corrector?

Sleeping with a posture corrector is not recommended. However, there are things that can be done to maintain proper posture while sleeping. One of these recommendations is back sleep, as it ensures that our back is straight at all times and the mattress supports the natural curvature of the spine.

See also: Why is it worth sleeping on your back? Here are eight health benefits

How long should you wear a posture corrector during the day?

When we first start using the posture corrector, let’s start with 15 to 30 minutes a day to avoid pain or fatigue. After learning how to use it, we can wear it up to several hours a day with breaks (30 minutes of wearing, one hour break), and also perform exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the spine.