The 3 Simplest and Safest Posture-Fixing Products

There’s a difference between retaining good posture and fixing bad posture.

You’ve probably come across all sorts of gizmos and gadgets on the internet designed to improve your posture. Most of those items are likely posture “retainers” rather than posture “fixers.” If you’re looking to fix up bad posture for good without having to wear any type of brace or shock collar, then all you need are the three simple and safe products below.

Please note that some products may include affiliate links and ergofied may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links though this will in no way affect the price of the product.

BakBalls

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A lack of mobility in your upper back will prevent you from being able to achieve good posture.

Designed by an expert Sports Physiotherapist to the Australian Olympic team, BakBalls can be used to relieve back and neck pain and restore spinal mobility.

They are used by lying on them on the floor or leaning against them. BakBalls can also be used to relieve pain and tightness in the shoulders, glutes, hamstrings, ITBs, calves and plantar fascias. Watch these videos to learn how to use BakBalls safely and effectively.

While there are several knockoffs on the market, the original award-winning BakBalls have a unique shape that fits perfectly with the structure of the vertebrae. More comfortable to use than hard plastic versions, most will do well with the standard red BakBalls. Those with more soft tissue may prefer the firmer black density.

PRO TIP: If you’re really on a tight budget, simply tape two tennis balls together.

Foam Roller
36-inch

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the humble foam roller can be used for more than just rolling out tight muscles.

Be sure to get the largest 36-inch size without any bumps or ridges to maximize your foam roller’s versatility.

While BakBalls are perfect for mobilizing your upper thoracic spine with precision, the foam roller is excellent for generally restoring upper back and trunk muscle mobility. It can even be used to perform a variety of core exercises. Here are just a few ideas to try:

Thoracic Extension/Abdominal Stretch: sit on the floor and arch your back over your foam roller (always support your head with your hands).
Pec Stretch: lay face-up with your spine along your foam roller and do a snow angel motion with your arms (repeat with bent elbows for a deeper stretch).
Core Marching: after your pec stretch, reach your hands to the ceiling and try to alternate marching your legs without falling off your foam roller.
Lat Stretch: get more out of child’s pose by placing your foam roller horizontally under your forehead, allowing you to drop your chest deeper. Reach one arm across the midline of your foam roller with your palm up to find a lat stretch.

PRO TIP: You can store your foam roller under your desk as a dynamic footrest.

Yoga Sticks

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both a posture tester and a posture corrector.

Hold this device against your back with the top padded stick touching your head and the bottom stick touching your bottom.

If you have to reach your chin up and tilt your head back to maintain these two contact points (or if your head won’t even reach), your posture could use some work.

The horizontal sticks can be used to reset the posture of your chest and shoulders as you attempt to get your forearms parallel behind the sticks.

PRO-TIP: Make sure to follow the assembly instructions closely to secure the sticks together. If you’re struggling with the set-up or use of your Yoga Sticks, this can be included as part of an Ergonomic Workstation Assessment.

If you want to fix what is likely the root cause of your poor posture, read Common Sitting Mistakes That Lead to Pain and Poor Posture.