A posture strap is a type of posture corrector worn beneath one’s clothes to help them maintain proper posture. This product is not something that a doctor prescribes; that would be a back brace. Rather, posture straps are something one buys from fitness stores or online, is checked for a good fit by the individual who bought it, and consists of a series of cloth straps. For individuals who sit slouched over in front of a computer all day, they may find it helps straighten and keep their back in this position all day.
Clothing is to be worn over the posture strap, but undergarments still remain underneath. They usually have two straps that reach over the shoulders, criss-crossing into an “X” over the back. When worn, the posture strap will help retract the shoulders, puffing out the chest, and straightening the spine, which is useful in the medical field. This is possible because the “X” will press into the thoracic spine, which is the area in the upper part of the spine that can round forward due to slouching. Furthermore, any occupation that lifts heavy objects can make use of a posture support device.
For correcting mild to moderate postural issues, a posture strap can be beneficial. However, for true spinal deformities, such as in the case when the patient has kyphosis or scoliosis, then a posture strap will do very little. Those deformities require special treatment from an orthopedic specialist, and more serious methods are required such as physical therapy, an actual stiff posture brace, or perhaps even surgery to fully fix the issue.
A posture strap is not a permanent cure to the issue of bad posture. They are only beneficial for postural support, but if one does not exercise or attempt to maintain good posture on their own, then they will have to rely on the product forever. One must strengthen the “core” muscles, which are the muscles in the abdomen and back. Posture straps can help retrain muscles that are tightened up, or help retract one’s shoulders so they are not rounded. However, to truly fix the issue of poor posture, one must exercise their muscles or they will remain weak and return back to their rounded positions as soon as the strap is removed.
One should not rely entirely on the posture strap to cure their posture problems. One must be proactive and practice good posture on their own, such as by sitting straight at their desk for brief periods on their own, or getting up and walking around. Posture straps are designed to be inconspicuous, that is why they are supposed to be worn beneath one’s clothing. Thus, it is important that it is washed regularly as it will be in direct contact with skin, and therefore sweat and other fluids excreted from the body.