In Taylor Swift’s profile for TIME’s 2023 Person of the Year, photos revealed that she wore the Forme Power Bra during Eras tour rehearsals last year. This is a sports bra designed by an orthopedic surgeon to help improve body alignment.
The price is high, but, at least, for Conz Preti, editor-in-chief of Business Insider, it’s worth it. “I love this bra so much,” Preti said after wearing it for nine months to keep her shoulders from leaning too far forward when she plays tennis.
The author, after a sports session, wears the Forme bra. Courtesy of Conz Preti
For $185, wearers should feel their upper body alignment “immediately improve” as the bra “activates and supports key muscle groups, helping guide the body to proper alignment naturally, without any discomfort ”, according to the Forme website.
This bra isn’t the only posture correction product on the market. In fact, there is an entire industry built around posture improvement devices and fitness programs, totaling $1.25 billion spent worldwide each year, Beth Linker reported in her new book “Slouch : Posture Panic in Modern America.
If you find that one of these products works for you, then don’t hesitate to use it, Linker said. But otherwise, she advises against looking for a quick fix, because you risk wasting money and hurting yourself using a product that might not be right for you.
Linker is an author, medical historian and former physical therapist. In “Slumped,“ she takes readers on a journey through the history of our societal obsession with good posture. From her point of view, trying to correct your posture with expensive one-step products is not the best approach.
“The kind of bra Taylor wears is incredibly expensive,” Linker told BI. Companies can get away with marking up products like this with promises that they will improve posture, she said, but she’s not convinced it will work for everyone. Forme did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Why she is skeptical
Posture correction products may not work for everyone and can even cause injury if they are not properly fitted to the user. Shutterstock
Linker considers posture correction products like Taylor Swift’s bra to be “one-size-fits-all solutions.” They’re designed to work for everyone, and that’s where Linker is problematic.
These products do not take into account the unique and individual physiological characteristics, lifestyle choices, and injuries that could contribute to a person’s “bad” posture.
A quick Google search for “posture correction products” yields countless results, ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. For example, you can buy a $16 harness-like posture corrector that uses compression to align the spine, much like Swift’s bra. Or, you can opt for a larger purchase, like this $349 “posture pump” that inflates when you lie on it to align, decompress and lubricate the spine, according to posturepump.com.
Before purchasing any of these products, Linker recommends asking yourself whether your posture really needs to be corrected in the first place.
The idea that slouching is bad for health and well-being is not based on science, but rather on decades of “cultural shaming,” which Linker describes in his book. She explains the history and stigma of “bad” posture in the United States.
“What I show in the book is that there have been a few studies that indicate that there is no solid scientific evidence that a person who slouches more is more likely to have back pain,” she said.
However, if you are experiencing pain or discomfort and think that improving your spinal alignment might help, here are some steps you can take.
The Right Way to Take Care of Your Spine
Getting up and moving throughout the workday is a good way to combat back pain, Linker said. Westend61/Getty Images
Linker recommended consulting a doctor, physical therapist, or bodywork professional before starting to work on your posture. This way, they can expertly assess your unique needs and help you safely achieve your specific goals.
“Every person’s back pain is individual,” she said.
Incorporating movement into your daily routine is also a great way to reduce back pain and create better spinal alignment, Linker said, especially for those who sit for long hours during the work week. It’s important to get up from your desk, walk around, stretch, and make sure you don’t sit in one position for too long.
For example, she always keeps a standing desk handy, not because standing is necessarily “better” than sitting, but because it gives her the flexibility to change positions throughout the day.
She also suggests practicing yoga or Pilates. These types of exercises stretch and strengthen muscles throughout the body and can promote healthy alignment.
Bottom line: Be skeptical of one-size-fits-all products that promise to “fix” your posture, Linker said. Instead, seek professional advice, move your body, and don’t obsess about achieving perfect posture.
businessinsider
