The power of posture

But did you know poor posture can have an impact on our performance at work? Last year we took more than 30 million sick days due to musculoskeletal problems, costing the British economy a painful £14bn. That’s a lot of bad back and necks.

If, like us, you never want to miss a day of work again due to back pain, UPRIGHT GO is on hand. The rather clever device fixes to your back and gently vibrates when you slouch, meaning you’ll automatically know when you need to sit or stand straight. Clever, right? It gets cleverer. The UPRIGHT GO pairs with an app—available for both iOS and Android—generates personalised posture-boosting training plans, and can build muscle strength in two to three weeks.

All of us know that we should probably have better posture, that it’d be nice to leave work and not have that knotty back and be able to skip merrily down the road (to the pub). Why, though, does good posture matter in the workplace and beyond?

First impressions are key



Even at the interview stage, posture is important, with body language being just as relevant as your previous experience and vision for the future. Shortlist Media’s editorial director Phil Hilton admits that while we no longer expect potential employees to spend the entirety of their interview with a formal stiffness more suited to royal banquets than flat whites in Soho, “any hint of droop or slouch suggests a lack of interest and ultimately hints that a candidate may be more comfortable watching TV than meeting their targets”.

The power of prevention 


Many of us are worrying about potential musculoskeletal problems but aren’t taking preventative measures to abate the agony. As office-based writer Angus told us, “At the start of each day I sit up straight, but invariably within an hour I’ve dribbled down the chair like a mollusc and ended up crippled and slumped. I now have to do nightly yoga exercises and stretches in order to stop my lower back and the muscles in my neck from ossifying. I wish there was a permanent fix, but I fear the damage is already done.”



Freedom of movement



Slouching isn’t confined to offices, though. Camberwell-based artist Sam Hanner told us that being at the easel can have just as much of an impact on posture as tapping away at a laptop from nine to five. “Larger work requires a certain amount of bodily and physical simulation of the gesture before putting brush to surface, which is a bit like a golfer rehearsing their swing. This can result in a variety of awkward or odd poses depending on the area being painted,” he says. “Painting on a smaller scale leads me to being hunched over a fiddly little brush and periodically straightening the spine to see from further away.” Its a process of adaptation that’s born of necessity, but artistic necessity doesn’t necessarily lessen the bodily aches and pains that come with creating a masterpiece.

“I am guilty of slouching because it just feels too comfortable – even though it’s not”

The long game



Some of us rely on having good posture more than others. For documentary maker and camera operator Tayo Yussuff, keeping things in good order is imperative. “My back is my livelihood, so it’s important that I keep it fit and healthy.” Yusuff works on core and back exercises to keep the area in top condition, but like most of us, when he’s at a desk he can readily slip into bad habits. “I am guilty of slouching because it just feels too comfortable – even though it’s not. Having something to remind you about your posture can only be beneficial in the long run.”

 


We could all do with that reminder from time to time, and UPRIGHT GO is ready to give us the nudge we need.

The UPRIGHT GO is available to purchase right now at £79.99. Head to Apple, Amazon UK, Argos or visit uprightpose.com to get yours.