Do Posture Shirts Really Help Improve Posture?

One of the biggest complaints from dentists is back pain. The constant straining and twisting in the chair during procedures really takes a toll on the upper and lower back muscles. Even as a dental student, I found that back pain was a reality I would have to cope with throughout my career. When a friend recommended a posture shirt to me after some years of practicing in the private sector, I immediately took the opportunity to buy one and give it a go. No harm in trying, right?

There are a few different posture shirts on the market. They are generally designed by groups of physicians, sports medicine specialists and physical therapists and are meant to stimulate certain muscle groups while you sit or stand as a reminder to improve your positioning and posture. They do not manipulate the muscles in any way to force a straighter posture. Instead, with bands woven into the fabric, they provide tightness and support around your shoulders and lower back. That way, if you deviate from an ideal posture, you will feel more tightness, which goes away when you sit properly.

Sounds great, right? When I first put the shirt on I felt the tightness that I expected but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Wearing it under my medical scrubs, I hoped it would help me have less back pain at the end of my workday as a dentist. I cannot control my posture too much while I am working on patients as I need to be able to see, and sometimes the only way to do that is to contort my body somewhat. The shirt did help me sit properly when writing my clinical notes, but it is just a vehicle for your own self-awareness. You still need to be dedicated to improving your posture. The shirt, alone will not do it for you.

These shirts are not cheap. At about $95-115 per shirt they are an expensive gamble. I wish they existed in more styles, such as sleeveless and long sleeved, but the design is appealing to the eye.

At the end of the day, did I have less back pain? I think so. I believe that building core muscles and postural muscles with Pilates and yoga help manage back pain more than an article of clothing, but I continue to wear it under my medical scrubs everyday all the same.