I have bad posture and from time to time I'm reminded of it. Most of the time I'm not aware of my bad posture. About a month or two back, I was hanging out with a friend and his friend, and his friend noticed I had bad posture and straightened me up and gave me some advice he got from his physical therapists. He said he used to have bad posture but he seems fine.

Anyway, since then I've been trying to be aware of my posture but sometimes I forget and catch myself slouching a bit. I found one of those ads you get in the Sunday paper advertising for a back strp sorta thing that helps with getting a straight posture. It has some magnetic things and is supposed to be undetectable under clothing all for $12. Are these things a gimmick? What about on Ebay?

Anyone recommend any sort of device that you wear that will help with posture? Any suggestions or advice?

Advice: workout those abdominal muscles.

The shoe arches claim to correct posture???

Yup. I had poor posture too, until I started going to the gym. My core was just not strong enough for me to stand and sit straight up all the time. I didn't start going to the gym with that specific intention but it sort of solved itself, getting stronger and bigger muscles wasn't bad either

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You don't need any gimmicks. Just try to focus on your posture...gut in, shoulders back and stand tall. Over several weeks it'll get easier as your muscles get used to it. It will serve you well over a long time...

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Start doing a full-body weight lifting/resistance routine (3) days a week. That'll strengthen your muscles and straighten you up. Everyone should be doing a weight-resistance routine anyway their entire teenaged and adult life - along with extensive walking or cardio.

Or, if you are young enough, join a branch of the military - they will train you and your body to stand up straight. I was enrolled in a private military school in high school and college where I was exposed to this physical training. Worked for me.

Being aware of your posture is what it's all about. Yoga can facilitate that or seeing a physical therapist. As mentioned, strengthening your core via yoga or certain resistance exercises.

If your really serious, see PT - don't rely on the internet.

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Such pertinent advice.

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Some great advice. I didn't know trengthening the abs affect posture. I've been meaning to set up a daily regimen in which I'd do sit-ups, push-ups, etc. to tone my muscles, but I never got motivated enough to even get started. Now I have a good reason! I ride bikes a lot, but I guess that doesn't really help with the ab muscles.

When I consciously stand and walk straight, it feels a bit unnatural, and I'm a bit consious of looking like I'm walking as though I'm trying too hard to stand tall.

So posture can be corrected?

It has to do with strengthening core muscles, including lower back.

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'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

If I slouch it hurts.

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Yeah, I was going to say either yoga or Pilates might help. I slouch too much and it gets progressively worse the older you get, if you don't do anything about it.

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As kids my parents would make us stand agains the wall in bare feet with heels, buttocks, shoulders and back of head against the wall so we knew what it was to stand up straight.
Sitting down to dinner one sat on the seat such that your thighs/calfs were 90 degrees, your thighs/back was 90 degrees and your back just brushed but did not rely on the back of the chair for support.

This might have had something to do with both their parents being career military.....

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