Why Posture Correctors Actually Worse Your Posture
Bad posture: an epidemic in 2010?
We all seem to spend a greater percentage of our days hunched over in front of our computers. Whether we’re at work, at the local Starbucks, or at home, most of us spend hours a day in front of a computer. Email and social media have become an integral part of our daily lives, and most of us are hunched over while in front of our computers.
To make matters worse, most of us still spend a lot of time watching TV and driving, two activities that most people don’t have an ideal posture for.
Do you remember your mother telling you to stand up? Well, think of today’s kids who spend most of their day in front of a computer or playing video games. Poor posture is fast becoming part of our culture and the negative effects go far beyond a sore neck and back.
Poor posture = poor health
People with poor posture suffer up to a number of negative consequences. These can include obvious problems like neck and back pain, a misaligned spine, rounded and droopy shoulders, osteoporosis, and arthritis. But it can also cause less obvious side effects, such as decreased energy, organ malfunction, abdominal discomfort, and many other problems.
Additionally, poor posture gives one the appearance of poor health, low self-esteem, and a general lack of confidence.
Posture correctors, the miracle cure?
Traditional braces come in various sizes, materials, and configurations. From thin, stretchy over-the-shoulder posture bras to Velcro vests and back braces made from surgical tubing, they all try to do the same thing: pull your shoulders back to maintain an upright posture and straight, correct posture. The problem with most braces is that they actually put the wearer in the correct posture. So why would that be a problem?
The problem with traditional braces is that they do the work for you. The passive nature of having your shoulders back serves to weaken your back muscles, which actually worsens your posture over time, thus defeating the very purpose of wearing a posture correction brace.
Most people who have tried traditional braces have experienced the discomfort, chafing under the arms, and difficulty of use that most devices offer, but most don’t realize that in the process of trying By improving posture, the user could actually be causing long-term atrophy of the back muscles that are required for good posture.
a better solution