We’ve tried on a lot of posture braces in our time, working with clients and friends wanting to improve their posture. One of the main issues we run into with most posture braces is that sooner or later the body gets used to the pull of the brace, and sinks back into the same old slump.

Well, we’ve finally found a posture support brace made by people who think outside the box and which addresses this issue – as well as several others. The Posture Pleaser Brace is very creative – and effective – in its design. It uses a very small weight (starting at as little as half a pound) to pull the shoulders back and help improve posture naturally.

The posture brace simply consists of a couple of shoulder straps and a small weight, which is held on the back. The weight can be increased over time, as your core muscles get stronger, and your body is ready for a greater challenge.

The Posture Pleaser Support Brace

There are many good things to be said about the Posture Pleaser Brace. Firstly, as we mentioned above, the body cannot compensate against the pull of the brace, as happens with most posture braces, particularly the more flimsy elastic posture support braces. The weight stays constant, and the only way the body can deal with the weight is to straighten up (and strengthen) against it.

This brings us to the second advantage of the Posture Pleaser: This brace actually strengthens the core posture support muscles. Unlike most posture support braces, which tend to make the muscles work less, your core muscles have to work harder with this brace. And of course, increasing core strength is a key to improving posture permanently over the long term.

But there is more. The Posture Pleaser brace  is one of the first braces we’ve found that counteracts one of the most insidious problems faced by people with long-term bad posture. If your back and shoulders are seriously rounded, over time the shoulder blades begin to migrate up the back. In many cases, this permanently reshapes the back, pulling the shoulder blades out of their natural position. When this happens, it can be very hard to stand straight and correct posture, because you’re up against the shape of the body itself.

Again, the Posture Pleaser Brace addresses this issue very elegantly. The pull of the slight weight on the back automatically pulls down the shoulder blades and counteracts shoulder blade migration. It also helps straighten the latissimus dorsi, an important back muscles for helping keep the chest and heart area lifted and improving posture.

Start out wearing the Posture Pleaser half an hour or so and then build up to longer period as your posture support muscles get stronger. You can also wear it when you go for a gentle walk, but avoid using it when performing other types of exercise.

Here is more information about the Posture Pleaser Brace on Amazon.com, which also features some of the best prices for this great new type of posture brace:

Posture Pleaser Brace

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 If you’re looking to correct your posture, give yourself a pat on the back. More and more people are becoming concerned about correcting their posture, and for good reason. In the computer age, where many people slouch at their desk for hours, bad posture is becoming more and more of a problem. Getting an early start on reversing bad posture is your best bet for avoiding serious problems down the road.

Permanently improving posture is a multi-step process, which we have written about elsewhere on this website. But if you are concerned about a rounded back and shoulders, a posture support brace is a good place to start. While a posture brace won’t automatically reverse bad posture, the right posture support brace will help remind you throughout the day about proper posture.

Our Favorite Posture Corrector for Rounded Shoulders

While there are many cheap posture braces, you need to look for something that is not too flimsy. You need to find a brace that will provide enough posture support so that you don’t simply forget about it. While some posture control braces focus mainly on curved shoulders, braces that support that whole torso are better for reversing a rounded, hunched back.

If you’re concerned about rounded shoulders, this posture brace is our top pick. It wraps around your shoulders to pull the shoulders back, and the non-elastic bands are soft enough to provide a secure fit without cutting into your shoulders.

The main benefit of posture support braces for the upper back is that they remind you to correct your posture, they don’t automatically do it for you. Unfortunately, with cheap posture braces, you often run into the problem that the elastic band simply isn’t strong enough. After ten to fifteen minutes of wear, you forget that they are there and revert to your usual slump.

This posture brace offers strong elastic support and the fulcrum in the back also helps to prevent slouching. This posture support brace offers such strong support that the straps may begin chafing your shoulders slightly after 30 minutes wear. While that’s somewhat uncomfortable, it’s a good thing in our book–it forces you to remember to sit straight! Just don’t wear the strap so long that you experience any serious discomfort. Wear it a couple of times throughout the day 30-60 minutes each time, and you should see some good results. The straps can be adjusted to become increasingly firm as your posture improves.

Relatively speaking, this posture support brace is fairly pricy, as posture correctors go. However, while you can find less pricy versions with a similar design, they provide less durable support. The best price we have found is on Amazon.

Posture Corrective Brace

Posture Corrective Brace

 And if your looking for a less expensive option:

Posture Perfect Support

Posture Perfect Support

For more information about the best posture support braces, also see these articles:

The Soft Form Posture Control Brace

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If you are concerned about rounded shoulders and bad posture, the idea of getting a posture brace, which can provide additional posture support and help straighten you up, is appealing.

While a posture support brace can be a great posture improvement aid, remember that this kind of external posture support only is half of the solution. Posture braces can be a great aid in reminding your body of keeping a proper posture. However, just wearing a posture brace is rarely enough on its own. You also need to do corrective posture exercises to develop the muscles that allow your body to maintain proper posture after you’ve taken the brace off.

Shopping for a posture brace can be a daunting task. There are many different varieties of posture braces, and they serve different posture support issues. Some focus on reversing rounded shoulders, some on general posture support, and some on lumbar support. In this article we will focus on posture support braces for the shoulders and upper back. Lumbar support braces are a category of their own, which we will address in a different blog entry.

Here are eight tips for selecting the best posture support brace.

1. To begin with, know which aspect of your posture is the one you need the most help with. If it’s your shoulders, make sure the brace you are considering provides straps that effectively pull your shoulders back. If your concern is curvature of the spine, consider a brace with stiffer reinforcements along that area.

2. Many posture braces that correct shoulder slumping feature thin straps that can, over time, dig into the underarm area. Check to see that the product you are looking at features either larger straps, or some form of padding. Otherwise, consider wearing a t-shirt underneath to prevent chafing along the strap area.

3. Many braces advertise that they can be worn under clothing, but some are a little bulky (especially if you end up needing to wear a t-shirt underneath as well as over top). You can usually tell from product images and customer reviews whether or not the brace will be noticeable.

4. Some posture braces are constructed from latex. While latex provides flexibility, it is not in the least bit breathable. Choose a brace made from Lycra, spandex, or other fabrics to ensure proper ventilation.

5. Some posture braces provide more support that others. If the support is too weak, you will quickly forget about the brace and slump back into a bad posture. So look for a brace that is firm enough to keep reminding you of proper posture.

6. When purchasing a posture brace, don’t sacrifice quality for price. Remember, you are purchasing a device for your health, and you want one that will effectively improve your posture and/or back pain. A well constructed device will serve you better in the long run.

7. Adjustability is an important feature. Every body is built differently, and even specifically sized posture braces can’t offer the perfect dimensions for everyone. If you are having a hard time finding a posture brace that fits your body properly, look for one with adjustable straps.

8. Sizing on posture braces is not necessarily straightforward. Whenever it is possible, check the customer reviews to see whether it might be better to order a size larger/smaller.

For a review of some of the best posture support braces, also check out the following articles:

Posture Support: Our Top Picks for Posture Braces that Encourage Proper Posture

The Soft Form Posture Control Brace

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Sitting for long hours at a stretch just isn’t that good for your body. Sitting in bad posture is even worse. It’s critical to sit with proper posture during your work day. And, as you train yourself to do so, you will actually strengthen your core muscles to help improve your standing and walking posture as well.

To encourage proper sitting while in the office, simple things like an office chair with proper lumbar back support can make a big difference to relieve back pain and make our lives a little better. 

Look for an office chair back support, which is ergonomically designed to fit in with the natural posture of your spinal cord. This ensures that whenever you are sitting at your desk you are assured that your body doesn’t slump into a bad posture, which leads to a variety of back problems.

Spinal problems which start out as minor cramps can turn into lifelong diseases which at times becomes crippling for the individual if proper care is not taken at the right time. Getting an office chair with lumbar back support should be one of the first precautionary measures that can be adopted to prevent back-ache from arising. If you already suffer from a back problem then an office chair with proper back support becomes crucial. The long working hours that you keep at work will now become much more comfortable if you decide to use an office chair with back and posture support.

Most of us tend to ignore minor symptoms as and when they show up. It would be advisable to approach a physiotherapist and get medical help at early stages itself. Simple exercises that include stretching the tired body muscles can be surprisingly effective if practiced on a regular basis. Additional precautions will include a healthy diet, regular meals, and a form of physical exercise, which could also include sports and of course support devices like an office chair back support. A person who works from home or simply looks after the housework can also benefit form an office chair back support if he or she uses it at home whenever the person is sitting at a particular place for a long duration of time.

A healthy routine, medical supervisions and customized equipments like an office chair back support can go a long way in promoting a healthy lifestyle for most of us. It is completely up to us whether we want to lead our lives in an active manner by taking small precautions and measures or do we simply want to waste our lives by ignoring the signals that our mind and body gives out to us. Maybe its time to wake up and take notice!

If you’re looking for back support for your chair, check out this lumbar back support on Amazon.com.

Matt
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/an-office-chair-back-support-lets-you-have-a-proper-posture-199324.html

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While we tend to think of forward posture, osteoporosis, hyperkyphosis (back hunch), and other such health issues as concerns for the older generation, the truth is, the habits that define our long-term structural health start when we’re young.

Kids in this day and age have many advantages that previous generations of children didn’t; however, when it comes to posture, our kids also have an extra burden to bear.

Physical therapists recognize that computers and heavy backpacks are two of the leading culprits when it comes to our children’s poor postural health. While it may be easy to dismiss concerns over slumping computer posture and improper backpack wear, bad posture is more than just unattractive: in 2007 alone, approximately 20,000 kids visited a doctor or ER due to back pain caused by heavy backpacks.

With a new school year at hand, now is the time to start establishing the corrective posture that will protect your child’s back for years to come. Here are 9 tips to help you and your child improve posture and ensure a healthy back:

1.    Wear both backpack straps. Using both backpack straps will help distribute the weight of the pack evenly, preventing asymmetrical stress and muscular strain.

2.    Tighten the straps.  The backpack should sit along the middle and upper parts of the back. Wearing a backpack too low can cause the spine to arch unnaturally and certain muscle groups to strain.

3.    Use the waist-strap, if the backpack comes with one. The waist-strap helps to distribute the pack’s weight more evenly.

4.    Monitor pack weight. Kids should never carry more than 10-15% of their body weight on their backs. This means that if your child is 80lbs, her or she should carry no more than 8-12 lbs of textbooks at any time. Research has shown that any more than this will place excess stress on the neck, shoulders, and back.

5.    Minimize. Schedule a regular time to sort through the backpack and eliminate unnecessary items that may be contributing to the bag’s weight.

6.    Classroom textbooks: ask teachers if they can keep in-class textbooks so that the kids can leave their textbooks at home, instead of shuffling them back and forth. Some parents may want to consider purchasing a second text book for their child when necessary.

7.    Internet textbooks: if an in-class text is not an option, sometimes textbooks are available online. In this case, children can leave their textbooks at school and use the online version at home. Which brings us to…

8.    Develop healthy computer posture. There are several tips to help establish corrective posture for at the computer, which can be viewed here: corrective posture exercises. With the hours today’s children spend in front of the screen, it’s more important than ever to improve posture when at a computer or desk.

9.    When needed, consult a PT. If your child complains of pain in their neck, shoulders, or back, consult a physical therapist. PTs can not only help figure out what the problem is, but they can also provide effective solutions and exercises to promote long-term structural health.

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