Six ways to improve your posture

Never mind the clothes at the John Singer Sargent exhibition at Tate Britain, the show is an object lesson in how to stand. Today’s medical establishment probably wouldn’t condone the use of boned corseting typically used in Sargent’s day to achieve the poised élan of his subjects, but the modern use of laptops, smartphones and chairs to work and slump in has been just as debilitating to our spinal health. 

Some 28 million working days are lost in the UK each year due to musculoskeletal conditions. “Badly set up home offices cause major problems,” says consultant bio-mechanist Tim King. Slouching can even “have flow-on effects that affect both fitness and work performance”, adds Liam Rodgers, founder of Inspire Physio & Fitness. “By making it harder for you to breathe fully, a slumped body position can impact energy, stress levels and cognition.”

Taking steps to improve alignment can make a huge difference. But while there are any number of posture-correcting braces on the market, Rodgers cautions that something that constrains you “may do more harm than good, encouraging muscles to become lazy and switch off.”  Instead, here are are six things that will help you sit up straight.

Forme Power Bra

More forgiving than a posture brace – this bra-with-benefits was designed by an orthopaedic surgeon to encourage the shoulders to move back. It’s not uncomfortable exactly, but you know you’re wearing it. Taylor Swift is apparently a fan. $185, forme.science

Adidas Gym Ball

King believes the pelvic floor is overlooked as a key “corseting” muscle to keep your pelvis well positioned. Encourage it to kick in by switching your desk chair for a Pilates ball and sitting “on and off” it throughout the day. £18.99, decathlon.co.uk

Posturite Slim Cool Laptop Stand

Jutting your head forward – also known as “tech neck’ – puts great strain on your cervical spine. Avoid it by raising your screen height just below eye level, wherever you are, with this portable stand. If you’ve got kids, also get them to use it for any devices. £49.99, posturite.co.uk

Bamford B-Calm Buckwheat Bolster

Boring but important: you need to stretch. King recommends the cobra pose. Or lie on the floor with a bolster running the length of your spine from your head to your tailbone, letting your shoulders butterfly open. £55, bamford.com

Catie Miller 5-Minute Postural Reset Programme

Balance forward-focused exercises like running and spinning with the mobility that comes from yoga, barre and Pilates – for example on Catie Miller’s Barre Series subscription (especially good is her five-minute postural reset, which is designed either as a standalone routine or to be done before exercise). £25 a month for an annual plan, barreseries.com

Upright Go 2

This sensor – which you tape to your body or wear as a necklace – tracks your movements and alerts you when your posture starts to slump. For a lo-fi alternative, set an alarm every hour to remind you to stand up and walk around. £123.99 amazon.co.uk