Sitting and working or even playing in unhealthy fixed postures for a long time leads to the temporary pain you feel after getting up from the chair and various permanent and long-term health problems. Poor sitting and improper posture give rise to back pains and muscle injuries, and in severe cases, it also leads to permanent damage to the spine.
Hence proper posture and healthy sitting are highly encouraged and deemed necessary for office workers and people who spend more than 8 hours in front of the screen most of their days. This translates to the fact that office workers, more than anyone, are in dire need of practicing healthy ways of sitting and ditching harmful habits. At the same time, an ergonomic chair is a wonderful solution to attain a proper working posture because the best ergonomic chair prevents you from sitting, reclining, or sitting uncomfortably in your chair.
But in some cases, if you are already subjected and habitual of sitting in an unhealthy manner, you might actively need to work on your posture correction to fight back pain. Other than the best office chair for back pain, there are accessories known as a back posture corrector, which helps with poor sitting habits. This article will cover the benefits, uses, and ways to use a full back posture corrector for healthy sitting.
What is a Back Posture Corrector?
A posture corrector or a posture maintainer is a simple device, harness, or bracket made up of a reliable fabric that keeps you aware of your posture while working, sitting, standing, or doing basic chores. A lower back posture corrector helps with awareness of your posture; hence, it keeps you from easily falling into an improper working posture.
These posture correctors reside on your back and may cover half of the region or the entire back, depending on the target area. An upper back posture corrector works with the shoulders and upper region of the body. In contrast, you can also shop for a neck and back posture corrector if you complain about unhealthy back alignment. Modern posture correctors come with modern technology such as magnets, electric controls, and even programmed settings to ensure you are maintaining an ergonomic posture.
How Does A Posture Corrector Work?
All back posture correctors are created to treat muscle imbalances that develop when we spend a lot of time in unnatural, fixed positions, which they all have in common. Especially for the upper back muscles and some parts of the middle back muscles it is important to have a posture correction effect as they are likely to get overstretched and pressurized more. Correctors can assist in reactivating underused muscles and give them a direction for where they should be.
This method is called sensory feedback, where the body reminds the muscles to be in a healthy position to fall prey to unhealthy habits. The working mechanism behind a posture corrector is to provide awareness to the body about what a healthy posture feels like by exerting a certain amount of pressure. And to attain that optimum (healthy) muscle alignment, the brain moves the muscles to that point. This involves some effort done by the muscles, so wearing a back posture corrector for a few weeks can help you attain a healthy posture even after you have stopped wearing a posture corrector belt.
Pros and Cons of a Back Posture Corrector
Posture correctors are an accessory that is just used to prevent your body from falling habitual of back posture and minimize the back and shoulder pain, which in turn develops from the unhealthy posture. Here are some pros and cons of using a posture corrector belt in your routine.
Pros
- Posture correctors help remind the body to sit upright and are highly helpful for people who often find themselves engrossed in work and thus sit in an unhealthy manner.
- Posture corrector helps attain mobility and better muscle health. It also trains the muscles to align healthily actively; hence you can make your muscles work and lose some calories without realizing it.
- Posture correctors reduce pain for people who wear them regularly, and soon they can find themselves free from any back and shoulder pain.
- They are a low-cost pain treatment option for back, neck, and other body muscles.
- They can work according to an ergonomic chair and a standing desk and help you maintain a healthy posture while working.
Cons
- Posture correctors are not a full-term solution to correct your posture because they only aid your back and neck to align healthily. The rest of the work is to be done consciously.
- They might not be as effective for lower back pain and sensitive lumbar regions.
- Using a back posture corrector belt for a long time can weaken your muscles and might make your posture habitual to aid
- Due to the aid bearing the bulk of the weight instead of the muscles, inducing atrophy, they may cause damage.
- The wrong choice can give rise to muscle pains and similar issues and might end up making the problem of posture worse altogether.
How to Choose a Posture Corrector
Choosing a back posture corrector in most cases first requires a diagnosis from a healthcare professional so you can find what muscle areas are in dire need of work and what parts need extra support. Here are some ways to find the best posture corrector for you.
Target Areas
There are several posture correctors for various body areas. The most typical are the shoulders, cervical, thoracic junction (where your upper back meets your neck), and lumbar spine. If you have lumbar support for an office chair, you might need to purchase a posture corrector for the upper back region. Hence, the body becomes habitual to maximizing the benefits of an ergonomic seat.
Comfort
You want breathable clothing that feels comfortable against your skin and doesn't chafe. Your body shouldn't be forced into abnormal positions and shouldn't be too tightly restrained. If it is uncomfortable, you won't utilize it, which means it won't work. The backbone posture spine corrector is made of comfortable natural material that feels soft and durable against your skin. It is also made for hot weather and sweaty seasons.
Price
It is just a belt. How much would it cost? But if you opt for high-quality, modern and technology-equipped posture correctors, they might be a bit higher in price. Using an employee purchase program to get an incentive on office accessories can make a posture belt affordable and easy.
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