- The Upright Go is a smart device that reminds you when you’re slouching.
- I wore it during work and found it helpful most of the time.
- Doctors said I still need to work out and build up my core for better posture.
After hearing friends in their 30s complain about back pain over the years, it finally happened to me at age 33: my lower back was stiff. Every time I knelt down, rising up took a moment, as if my body was buffering.
Getting a new mattress pad and starting yoga classes improved my symptoms, but it wasn’t until I looked at photos of me running a marathon that I saw the bigger picture. My poor posture was out of control. As the race wore on, my back bent more into a “C.” I couldn’t unsee how bad my “tech neck” had gotten.
An internet search convinced me to buy the Upright Go posture corrector, a wearable smart device that you can stick to your back or attach to a necklace. The device gently buzzes to remind you when you’re slouching. For $60, it seemed worth trying. It was more affordable than the popular $190 Forme posture-correcting bra and seemed less clunky than a back belt or brace.
After using the device for two weeks, I quickly changed some poor posture habits. I plan to keep wearing it, even though fixing my back issues will take more than a posture corrector.
I learned I was slouching even more than I realized
The Upright was easy to charge and set up. After downloading the app, I was prompted to calibrate the device to my upright posture to establish a baseline.
I thought I would get a reminder a few times an hour, but it was more like a few times every five minutes. The moment I started getting remotely engrossed in my work, the soft buzz along my spine brought me back.
It wasn't until I readjusted the height of my desk that it became easier to stay straighter — my default position was hunched over to begin with. For getting me to notice and make that tiny adjustment alone, the Upright was worth it. My lower back also felt a little sore, which seemed promising.
It's harder to use during deep work
The more focused I get on a work assignment, the more my spine curls like a shrimp in a hot pan.
I got into an annoyingly vicious cycle: I'd fixate on writing or editing a story and start to slouch, setting off the device. I'd lose my train of thought, straighten up, and start over. Then, I'd get another buzz.
It got to the point where I had to remove the necklace to work on anything that required my sustained attention. I found it easiest to keep the Upright on when I didn't have to actively type, such as during work calls or doing errands around the apartment.
Kevin Lees, director of chiropractic operations at The Joint Chiropractic in New York, recommended wearing the device six to eight hours a day to properly form a habit. I was averaging, at most, two to three. I also didn't wear it out socializing because I wanted a break.
It demonstrates an issue that Dr. Arun Hariharan, a board-certified pediatric orthopedic and spine surgeon specializing in scoliosis, told me: smart devices are only as good as your commitment to them. "Those are great tools to understand what's going on, but they're not the fix," he said of other health devices like fitness rings and sleep trackers.
The Upright revealed how often I slouch, but solving the issue is more complicated than wearing a device.
The science behind smart posture correctors isn't substantive, said Hariharan.
"It plays almost no role in our medical treatment because the evidence hasn't been strong enough to recommend it," he said. While some people credit the devices for helping them improve their habits, the long-term impact is unknown.
Doctors say I can do more for my spine
The good news is that outside medical conditions like scoliosis, "you can reverse a lot of poor posture in six to 12 months," Lees said.
In addition to using the Upright, Lees recommended wearing posture-correcting sports bras or braces for short intervals, such as when I'm exercising, to form better habits while moving. The goal is for me to eventually not need them at all.
To avoid stiffness, Lees suggested stretching my chest, pec, and shoulder muscles while also doing balance exercises to stimulate my postural muscles.
In the long run, Hariharan said that strengthening my core muscles is crucial for better posture. Making sure my hamstrings aren't tight is also important. Otherwise, my entire lower back pulls forward and experiences more strain.
I still plan to use the Upright to help with my posture every day for the near future, but I'll also keep strength training and stretching as much as possible.