What are the Best Sources of Posture and Back Support?

Poor posture affects countless children and adults, and correcting those posture problems can help relieve chronic back, neck, and even leg pain. Posture and back support braces, chairs, and footwear can all help improve posture and relieve pain by supporting the spine and helping to strengthen the muscles that support the spine. Exercise equipment is also important for posture and back support, as no better way to support the spine exists than to strengthen the muscles that are supposed to hold the spine in correct position. For faster relief, however, back braces and ergonomic furniture are available for posture and back support.

Office workers who sit for long periods of time are especially susceptible to poor posture. By switching to an ergonomic chair, one can help promote proper posture and back support by aligning the spine into a natural position in which strain is avoided. Ergonomic chairs are highly adjustable to allow users of different sizes to find a comfortable position. The back of the chair offers lumbar spine support as well as neck support to put the spine into a natural, S-shaped position. Armrests are adjustable up and down so the user can find a comfortable typing position, and the hight of the chair can be raised or lowered so the user can find a position in which he or she is looking straight at the computer screen rather than up or down at it.

Posture and back support can also be gained by using Lycra®back braces. These braces wrap tightly around the torso and pull the shoulders back to prevent slouching. Lycra® is breathable and relatively comfortable, making it a good choice for back brace material. In some cases, rigid pieces of plastic or metal can be inserted into the brace to immobilize parts of the spine, which is useful when one is performing heavy lifting. Heavier duty plastic or metal braces are often used by people recovering from spinal injuries, and such braces should only be used with a doctor's approval.

Exercise equipment is perhaps the most important form of posture and back support. By strengthening core muscles — the muscles that support the spine, which include the lower back, hips, buttocks, and stomach muscles — the spine is more likely to stay in correct position. Since muscles tend to tense up when they tire, the spine can be pulled out of place. Muscles are more likely to tire when they are weak, so strengthening the muscles can go a long way toward improving posture and back support.