Posture correctors are wearable devices designed to use bands and pressure to help align your shoulders and spine, relieve discomfort, and improve your posture. More research is needed to determine their effectiveness.

Posture correctors are designed to help improve your posture and relieve discomfort. They range from bands that wrap around your waist, back, and shoulders to fitted shirts with built-in reinforcements and devices that use biofeedback to let you know when you are slumping.

Some people report that these devices help relieve pain and improve posture, but the evidence is limited. More research is needed to determine how these devices work and how effective they are.

Read on to learn more about posture correctors, what the research says, and if they might be right for you.

Today, most people spend a significant part of the day slumped in a chair over a keyboard or slouching over a phone. Posture correctors are wearable devices designed to help align your spine and shoulders and strengthen the muscles that maintain proper posture.

The goal of these devices is to help you improve your posture and decrease discomfort, like neck, shoulder, and back pain. Some correctors also claim to increase your energy levels.

It’s unclear if posture correctors improve posture long term.

Results from a 2019 review of 37 studies of posture correctors suggest that currently available postural correctors are accurate in assessing spinal posture in clinical settings. Still, more validation is needed to determine if long-term use of postural correctors is an effective way to improve posture.

Researchers in a 2019 study reviewed 137 articles about postural correctors and found only 6 were appropriate to assess the effectiveness of these posture tools. They found these studies supported the idea that posture-correcting shirts change posture and improve “discomfort, energy levels, and productivity.”

However, these researchers qualify that they only found one study of high quality. They note that the studies they found only included individuals who were “pain-free.” They suggest that a major limitation of the current research is that no study has investigated how effective posture correctors are in people being treated in clinical settings.

Researchers agree that more research is needed to determine if posture correctors are an effective way to improve posture and to what extent.

There are many types of posture correctors, but the main ones include:

  • Strapped devices: These are made of thicker, stretchy bands that wrap around your shoulders, back, and/or waist. They use pressure and support to balance your neck, spine, and shoulders. These devices may be worn under your clothing.
  • Support clothing: This is clothing like t-shirts, sports bras, or undershirts with reinforced areas to help you maintain good posture.
  • Electronic biofeedback devices: These devices use sensors to determine when your posture is out of alignment or slumping. If the device determines that your posture is not optimal, it will notify you, usually by vibrating, so you can correct your posture.

While some devices make health claims for individuals with scoliosis, posture correctors are not the same as a scoliosis brace used to treat scoliosis. Bracing for scoliosis is generally rigid and must meet stricter medical standards.

Manufacturers may register their devices with the FDA. While this is not the same as FDA approval, it does help ensure that the manufacturer is following FDA regulations. This does not mean a device has been FDA cleared or FDA approved, and does not imply that the FDA has reviewed or tested the device.

The FDA does not issue certifications for devices. If a product claims to have an FDA certification, that is false and may mean the product or seller is a scam.

The FDA provides higher levels of oversight for medical devices. Devices may be either FDA cleared or FDA approved. Here’s what that means:

  • FDA cleared: For a noninvasive medical device to be FDA cleared, it must use the FDA 501(k) pathway to show that it is comparable in safety and effectiveness to a device already being legally sold in the United States. This process can take months or years.
  • FDA approved: This is a 5-step process that ensures a medical device is safe and effective—that is, it does what it is designed to do without harming an individual using it. This extensive process may take 8 to 12 years to complete.

Posture correctors are designed to improve posture, help relieve pain, and make individuals more comfortable. Little or no research supports their effectiveness. More research is needed to determine if posture correctors can improve posture and help relieve pain.

If you are experiencing pain or have concerns about your posture, speak with a healthcare professional, like a physical therapist, orthopedist, or chiropractor, to see if posture correctors might help you.