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Taylor Swift wore the $185 posture-correcting Forme Power Bra while rehearsing for her Eras tour.
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The bra is designed to “instantly improve upper body alignment” and correct your posture.
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Beth Linker, author of “Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America” is skeptical of such products.
It seems even global pop stars have trouble standing tall.
Taylor Swift’s TIME’s 2023 Person of the Year profile revealed photos of her wearing a Forme Power Bra during a rehearsal for her 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 it’s worth it, at least for Business Insider senior editor Conz Preti. “I love this bra,” Preti said after wearing the bra for nine months to prevent her shoulders from slumping too far forward while playing tennis.
According to Forme’s website, for $185, users should feel their upper body alignment “immediately improves” as the bra “activates and supports major muscle groups, helping to naturally guide the body into correct alignment without any discomfort.”
This bra isn’t the only posture-improving product on the market. In Beth Linker’s new book, “Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America,” it is stated that there is, in fact, an entire industry built around posture-improving devices and fitness programs, with a total of $1.25 billion a year spent worldwide.
If you find that one of these products works for you, go ahead and use it, Linker said. But otherwise, he advised against shopping for a quick fix because you run the risk of wasting money and hurting yourself using a product that may not be right for you.
Linker is an author, medical historian and former physical therapist. In “Attack”,“He takes readers on a journey through the history of our societal obsession with good posture. From his perspective, trying to correct posture with expensive, one-step products isn’t the best approach.”
“The bra Taylor is wearing is incredibly expensive,” Linker told BI. He said companies could get away with flagging such products by promising to improve posture, but he wasn’t convinced they would work for everyone. Forme did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Why skeptical?
Linker sees posture-correcting products like Taylor Swift’s bra as a “one-size-fits-all solution.” They’re designed to work for everyone, and that’s where Linker has trouble.
These products do not take into account the unique, individual physiological characteristics, lifestyle choices, and injuries that may contribute to a person’s “bad” posture.
A quick Google search for “posture correction products” yields countless results, ranging in price from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. For example, you can buy a $16 harness-like posture corrector that uses compression to align the spine, similar to Swift’s bra. Or, you might opt for a larger purchase, like this $349 “posture pump” that inflates when you lie down on it to align, decompress and lubricate the spine, according to posturepump.com.
Before purchasing one of these products, Linker suggested asking yourself whether your posture really needs correcting in the first place.
The idea that slouching is bad for your health and well-being is based not on science but on decades of “cultural stigma,” as Linker outlines in his book. Explains the history and stigma of “bad” attitude in the United States.
“What I show in the book is that there are several studies that show there is no solid scientific evidence to show that a person who slouches more is more likely to experience back pain,” he said.
But if you are experiencing pain or discomfort and think improving your spinal alignment would help, here are some things you can do.
The right way to care for your spine
Linker recommended consulting a doctor, physical therapist or bodywork specialist before starting to work on your posture. This way, they can expertly assess your unique needs and help you achieve your specific goals safely.
“Every person’s back pain is individual,” he said.
Linker said incorporating movement into your daily routine is also a great way to reduce back pain and create better spinal alignment, especially for those who sit for long hours during the workweek. It’s important to get up from your desk, walk around, stretch, and make sure you don’t sit in the same position for too long.
For example, she keeps a standing desk handy at all times, not because standing is necessarily “better” than sitting, but because it gives her the option to change positions throughout the day.
She also suggests doing yoga or pilates. These types of exercises stretch and strengthen muscles throughout the body and can promote healthy alignment.
As a result, be skeptical 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.
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