View Full Version : Attention slouchers! Buy this. NOW. (lol!)
I saw this in a Sky Mall catalogue and bought it online. (Ebay, actually.)
http://www.footsmart.com/P-Posture-Corrective-Brace-30411.aspx
I got it in on Saturday and have been wearing it... it works BEAUTIFULLY. Will do wonders for my topline in smooth, I just know it! Since I started working full-time at a computer, I developed the really terrible habit of slouching constantly. Soon that habit grew from the office to home, to walking on the street, and even into the classroom.
My coach approves, too. ;) He said when he had studios in Alaska and Hawaii he had a few of his students wear them.
contracheck
12-11-2006, 08:37 AM
I saw this in a Sky Mall catalogue and bought it online. (Ebay, actually.)
http://www.footsmart.com/P-Posture-Corrective-Brace-30411.aspx
I got it in on Saturday and have been wearing it... it works BEAUTIFULLY. Will do wonders for my topline in smooth, I just know it! Since I started working full-time at a computer, I developed the really terrible habit of slouching constantly. Soon that habit grew from the office to home, to walking on the street, and even into the classroom.
My coach approves, too. ;) He said when he had studios in Alaska and Hawaii he had a few of his students wear them.
Can a male dance wear it? How does the front part look like? Do you plan to wear it during competition?
chachachikka
12-11-2006, 09:00 AM
It's not something to wear during a comp, it's a normal everyday thing to wear to keep your shoulders back, and posture up. It "trains" your muscles to be that way most of the time, in hopes that when it isn't on, your body will "remember" that position and remain in good posture.
Personally, I think it's like that black "frame" thing that studios use on newcomers to teach them proper frame... it allows people to be lazy and not hold up their own, and rely on a device to force their body into the correct position, in effect not training their muscles to act that way, but to sit on a device that puts them there.
and123
12-11-2006, 11:06 AM
Yeah, along those same lines, when I was in physical therapy (which didn't do jack for me for those of you who remember my issues), they told me a brace or device to hold the shoulders back where they belong may stretch the muscles that have become shortened due to poor posture, but they will not strengthen the muscles that have become weak from not being used properly, so your body will not gain much ability to *maintain* this position by using this contraption. Those muscles need to be strengthened, not just put and held there passively. Or so I was told....:rolleyes:
dancesportgirl21
12-11-2006, 11:12 AM
Me- I'm so glad you posted this! My mom was in many car accidents as a child which has damaged her posture and she gets horrible migraines. Certain exercises only cause her more pain, so I think this will help her a lot for her to wear while exercising. I've heard these really help some people.
contracheck
12-11-2006, 12:09 PM
It's not something to wear during a comp, it's a normal everyday thing to wear to keep your shoulders back, and posture up. It "trains" your muscles to be that way most of the time, in hopes that when it isn't on, your body will "remember" that position and remain in good posture.
Personally, I think it's like that black "frame" thing that studios use on newcomers to teach them proper frame... it allows people to be lazy and not hold up their own, and rely on a device to force their body into the correct position, in effect not training their muscles to act that way, but to sit on a device that puts them there.
I can understand that females dancers may not be able to wear this piece during competition because of the heavy exposure of back and cleavage, but I don't see why male dancers can't wear it. I tried the black thing, I tried broom sticks, and I tried helium baloons in arm pits but the muscles in my back, neck, and shoulders have such strong memory that they slouch over and collapse after 10 steps into competition.
This is the end of day one for me. I only wore it three times for thirty minutes each time, and the middle of my upper back is very sore. In FACT, it is the same sore I felt when my coach gave me a two hour crash course in silver smooth for a comp several months ago. (I've forgotten most of it now, but it was funny because at that time I won mostly firsts - don't ask how. I don't know!) ANYWAY, he spent most of those two hours on my posture - training me to lift up and out, not to collapse and lean back. He was constantly trying to get me to make flat my upper line. I remember the pain... ah, the pain!
Therefore, I give this product five stars!
This will really help train my awareness of slouching. I'm very happy.
tunape
12-11-2006, 11:41 PM
I saw this in a Sky Mall catalogue and bought it online. (Ebay, actually.)
http://www.footsmart.com/P-Posture-Corrective-Brace-30411.aspx
I got it in on Saturday and have been wearing it... it works BEAUTIFULLY. Will do wonders for my topline in smooth, I just know it! Since I started working full-time at a computer, I developed the really terrible habit of slouching constantly. Soon that habit grew from the office to home, to walking on the street, and even into the classroom.
My coach approves, too. ;) He said when he had studios in Alaska and Hawaii he had a few of his students wear them.
I tried these things many years ago(~10 years ago in high school!). It didn't really help since I needed to build muscles, not be held by a brace. Pilates and other training has helped tremendously.
It's a crutch. It won't help you build muscle memory because you're not going to be using your muscles when you wear this thing--it's going to be doing the work, not your muscles.
anp73ga31
12-12-2006, 06:25 AM
I can understand that females dancers may not be able to wear this piece during competition because of the heavy exposure of back and cleavage, but I don't see why male dancers can't wear it. I tried the black thing, I tried broom sticks, and I tried helium baloons in arm pits but the muscles in my back, neck, and shoulders have such strong memory that they slouch over and collapse after 10 steps into competition.
I have the same problem. I have slouched for all my life (I think it began as a pre-teen when I was extremely self-concious and shy), and now that I work at an office in front of a computer, its even harder to correct it. I dont really know that I can. My shoulders look to be permanently turned in...my instructor is always pulling on them trying to get me to stand up straighter, and I know I would look sooo much better dancing if I could, but I can't. I'm wondering if this thing might help...I know its a crutch of sorts, but some of us need a little more help than others...I dunno...
White Chacha
12-12-2006, 06:45 AM
... I have slouched for all my life (I think it began as a pre-teen when I was extremely self-concious and shy), and now that I work at an office in front of a computer, its even harder to correct it. I dont really know that I can...
You can and you will if you persist. It's taken me 5 years for things to look better. Your mileage may vary but do persist. You don't notice the change as it's so gradual but take some photos and compare them from time to time. You'll see the change!
Hmm well I do not understand why everybody insists this is a 'crutch.' The brace holds my shoulders where they need to be. I feel where they are, and engage my muscles and press my shoulders down. The brace, if anything, lengthens some of the muscles that have become shortened... at least, that's my theory.
Well, I'll keep using it and in about two weeks post another review. ;)
anp73ga31
12-12-2006, 10:41 PM
Well, I'll keep using it and in about two weeks post another review. ;)
Please do.... :)
I probably should at least wear something like that at work, where I tend to slouch the most and be so busy that I forget to think about proper posture.
Hmm well I do not understand why everybody insists this is a 'crutch.' The brace holds my shoulders where they need to be.
You tell us why it's a crutch right there. The brace is holding your shoulders.
When you walk with a crutch, the crutch is supporting your weight because you have weak muscles/bones. It doesn't help strengthen your muscles/bones. The only way you are able to lose the crutch is that your body rebuilds the muscles/bone and the fact that it does so is unrelated to your using the crutch (aside from using the crutch to avoid stressing the muscles/bones while they heal).
and123
12-13-2006, 11:27 AM
Well said.
And I'm not saying this device won't help you figure out where you need your shoulders to be and how it feels, but once you do that, you need to use your muscles and not the brace to keep them there so your body will regain the ability to STAY that way. It's good for stretching tight muscles and perhaps encouraging a little bit of muscle memory, but not for rebuilding weak ones (unless perhaps you consciously/actively use your muscles whilst wearing it, but I suspect it would be very easy to let *it* do the work for you instead).
BUT it's better than doing nothing at all, and if this "thing" helps you to maintain your posture better than you are now, then it's certainly worth trying.
samina
12-13-2006, 11:31 AM
You tell us why it's a crutch right there. The brace is holding your shoulders.
yah, but if she uses it intelligently, the crutch may help her gain the strength she wants on her own. if it shows her where things are *supposed* to go... and she uses her awareness to retain that on her own... it could help, for sure
just like getting repeated posture/movement assitance with a dance instructor. it's a crutch to keep getting you where you need to be, but eventually (if you pay attention) one no longer needs it, right?
:)
tanya_the_dancer
12-13-2006, 01:56 PM
It's not something to wear during a comp, it's a normal everyday thing to wear to keep your shoulders back, and posture up. It "trains" your muscles to be that way most of the time, in hopes that when it isn't on, your body will "remember" that position and remain in good posture.
Personally, I think it's like that black "frame" thing that studios use on newcomers to teach them proper frame... it allows people to be lazy and not hold up their own, and rely on a device to force their body into the correct position, in effect not training their muscles to act that way, but to sit on a device that puts them there.
I had a group class on waltz and the teacher told us that most of the time people use this frame thingy wrong and if used wrongly, it actually reinforces problems. He said that to use it correctly men need to use it as a guide but hold up their frame on their own. If they rest arms on it, or push against it in any direction, then it reinforces some bad habits men tend to have (like pushing their shoulder forward). And the black frame thingy does not really work for ladies' position.
samina
12-13-2006, 02:14 PM
fwiw, Me, i've been working daily on correcting my posture since summer, trying to get the back of neck -- where it joins with my spine -- completely straight. currently, there's that little bump that adults commonly get as they get older.
i have these exercises that i do when i sit at the computer (read: all day) as well as when i'm just walking around. am determined to correct this -- i dont' believe it's so far gone that it will refuse re-alignment.
and i have already succeeded in getting my back flat, with my shoulder blades smooth... so i believe it's possible to remediate incorrect posture habits...
haven't been using any braces or anything. i would love to hear your results after a couple weeks with the brace -- and then especially if you took the brace away and worked a few more weeks on retaining any shifts on your own.
yah, but if she uses it intelligently, the crutch may help her gain the strength she wants on her own. if it shows her where things are *supposed* to go... and she uses her awareness to retain that on her own... it could help, for sure
just like getting repeated posture/movement assitance with a dance instructor. it's a crutch to keep getting you where you need to be, but eventually (if you pay attention) one no longer needs it, right?
:)
Sure, if she wants to rig it to give her an electric shock whenever she relaxes her muscles out of position. :p
anp73ga31
12-14-2006, 09:30 AM
Sure, if she wants to rig it to give her an electric shock whenever she relaxes her muscles out of position. :p
Lol! Not a bad idea!
Seriously, though, I wouldn't totally discount the thing. For someone like myself, who has never had her shoulders in the correct position, this thing might actually help me to feel where my shoulders need to be and enable me to know what it feels like when they are in the right position so that I recognize it when trying to do it on my own. Some of us are so bad off with regards to posture (I mentioned earlier in the thread how my slouching as a pre-teen-adult has caused my shoulders to be permanently tilted forward) that something like this might help us.
Me: Please let us know how it goes and if it seems to help you even when you aren't wearing it.
samina
12-14-2006, 10:11 AM
Sure, if she wants to rig it to give her an electric shock whenever she relaxes her muscles out of position. :p
LOL thrilling!
Some Day
12-14-2006, 12:04 PM
i have these exercises that i do when i sit at the computer (read: all day) as well as when i'm just walking around. am determined to correct this -- i dont' believe it's so far gone that it will refuse re-alignment.
Sorry to highjack, but.... Samina, would you mind sharing the types of exercises you do to help you with posture. Like you, my work involves sitting in front of a computer all day and I've been trying to correct my horrendous posture for the last few months. I adjusted my desk chair and propped up my monitor to encourage better posture. What else can I try?
tunape
12-14-2006, 12:18 PM
Sure, if she wants to rig it to give her an electric shock whenever she relaxes her muscles out of position. :p
One of our coaches says to use duct tape(esp. on the guy) so that if you get out of position, it rips hair and skin! :) I haven't tried it yet, but got the duct tape and all.
samina
12-14-2006, 12:33 PM
Samina, would you mind sharing the types of exercises you do to help you with posture. Like you, my work involves sitting in front of a computer all day and I've been trying to correct my horrendous posture for the last few months. I adjusted my desk chair and propped up my monitor to encourage better posture. What else can I try?
sure, SD :) why don't i start a new thread on this, because these exercises are specifically about how i'm trying to get rid of that back-of-the-neck bump.
LOL thrilling!
I was thinking more along the lines of "shocking." ;)
mamboqueen
12-15-2006, 07:38 AM
I ran this contraption by the pt's at my session last night, and I'm afraid the concensus was that this was not a solution to postural correction. They said your brain needs to send the signals to the muscles consistently for posture to change (and they said try to be particularly aware of your posture while in front of the computer and while driving...I guess those are some of the most offensive "slouching" moments). They said they'll use braces similar to this only when people are recovering from an injury and they need to be in a certain position to allow for healing.
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