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While rehearsing for her Eras tour, Taylor Swift wore the $185 Forme Power Bra to correct posture.
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The bra is designed to “immediately improve upper body alignment” and fix your posture.
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Beth Linker, author of “Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America,” such products are suspect.
It seems that even global pop stars can find it difficult to stand up straight.
In TIME’s 2023 Person of the Year profile of Taylor Swift, photos showed her wearing the Forme Power Bra while rehearsing for the Eras Tour last year. This is a sports bra designed by an orthopedic surgeon to help improve body alignment.
It comes with a hefty price tag but, at least for Business Insider senior editor Conz Preti, it’s worth it. “I absolutely love this bra,” Preti said after wearing it for nine months to help prevent her shoulders from hunching forward too much while playing tennis.
At $185, wearers should feel upper body alignment “immediately improve” as the bra “activates and supports major muscle groups, helping to guide the body into proper alignment naturally, without discomfort on existence,” according to the Forme website.
This bra is not the only posture fixing product on the market. In fact, there’s an entire industry based on devices and exercise programs to improve posture, worth $1.25 billion spent annually worldwide, 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 go ahead and use it, Linker said. But otherwise, she advised not to shop for a quick fix because you risk wasting money and injuring yourself by using a product that might not be right for you.
Linker is an author, medical historian, and former physical therapist. In “Slouch,” she takes readers on a journey through the history of our societal obsession with good posture. From her perspective, trying to fix posture with expensive one-step products is not the best approach.
“The type of bra that Taylor is wearing is extremely expensive,” Linker told BI. Companies can get away with marking products like this by promising to fix a pose, she said, but she’s not sure they’ll work for everyone. Forme did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Why is she skeptical
Linker considers posture-correcting products like Taylor Swift’s bra to be a “one-size-fits-all solution”. They are designed to work for everyone, and that’s where Linker comes in.
These products do not take into account the unique physiological characteristics, lifestyle choices, and injuries that can contribute to a person’s “bad” posture.
A quick Google search for “posture correcting products” brings up countless results, ranging from a few bucks to a few hundred dollars. For example, you can buy a $16 posture corrector harness that uses compression to align the spine, like the Swift bra. Or, you can opt for a larger purchase, like this $349 “posture pump” that lifts when you lie down on it to align, decompress and lubricate the spine, according to posturepump.com.
Before you buy one of these products, Linker suggested asking yourself if you really need to fix your posture in the first place.
The idea that slowing down is bad for your health and well-being is not based on science, but on decades of “cultural shame,” Linker explains in his book. She explains the history and stigma against “bad” posture in the United States.
“What I show in the book is that there have been several studies that indicate that there is no solid scientific evidence that shows that someone who is more prone to back pain is more likely to have back pain,” she said.
However, if you have pain or discomfort and think that improving spinal alignment will help, here are some things you can do.
The right way to take care of your spine
Linker suggested consulting with a doctor, physical therapist, or bodywork professional before you start working on your posture. That way, they can expertly assess your unique needs and help you safely achieve your specific goals.
“Everyone has back pain individually,” 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’re not sitting in the same position for too long.
For example, she always keeps a standing desk handy not because standing is “better” than sitting, but because it gives her the option to change positions throughout the day.
She also recommends practicing yoga or pilates. These types of exercise stretch and strengthen the muscles throughout the entire body, and can promote healthy alignment.
Bottom line: Be suspicious 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.
Read the original article on Business Insider
