Poor posture isn't just unattractive, it has physical symptoms that can cause headaches, impair your shoulders and cause chronic pain, according to MayoClinic.com. To improve your posture, look for items that support correct positioning of the spine, head and neck. These items can be simple or complex depending on how acute your postural issues are.
A Wall
A simple and inexpensive means to improve your posture involves incorporating daily back check-ins, which increase your awareness of standing up straight. To check your posture, you only need a wall.
To start, lean against a wall, with your feet about 3 inches from the wall. Your head, shoulders and bottom should touch the wall, with only about one hand's-width distance between the wall and your back. If you have a larger distance, tighten your core and draw your back to the wall. Walk around using this corrected posture and check yourself regularly during the day.
Chair
If your regular routine requires that you sit for extended periods, check that your chair and workstation are set up for the best posture and mechanics. Align the back of the chair with your back so you don't feel the need to slump forward and are supported throughout the day. This minimizes fatigue and also ensures you don't slouch as the day goes on. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor, or slightly slanted toward your knees, depending on what is most comfortable. In this position, both feet need to touch the floor. If they don't, find a footrest. If you can, purchase or request an ergonomic chair that has adjustable arm supports, back, seat and height options to create a custom fit.
Specialized Garment
The May 20, 2008, issue of Scoliosis reported that use of a garment that uses gyrometers and integrated accelerometers to identify postural changes reduced poor posture, especially of the lumbar spine. The garment supports correct posture and sounds a tone when it identifies that the wearer has begun to slouch or slump. The long-term effects of using the garment beyond the four-day study period has not been studied. However, the study authors note that the garment was effective for the study participants and may help particularly with more acute postural problems.
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