Shoulders are one of the most important parts of the body when it comes to proper posture, and the bad sitting posture can lead to many shoulder, neck and back problems. And so can leading a sedentary lifestyle.
If you’re having a hard time keeping a proper posture, you might want to consider investing in braces. They’ve certainly helped me. I had scoliosis when I was younger but even today I have hard time keeping a proper posture. Shoulder braces help me maintain normal spinal curves when sitting, especially at work where I spend 8 hours in front of the computer.
The right shoulder brace Australia orthopedics say could make a huge difference in your everyday life, but selecting the right one can be somewhat difficult. Firstly, you need to know your body well. Also, consulting a physician (who can evaluate your condition and advise which course of action to take) instead of looking up a shoulder brace Australia wide on your own, is one of the best things you can do for your health. Of course, there are other important factors to consider.
Level of Support
There are three different levels of support: basic, advanced and high support.
Basic support braces provide a fair amount of posture and shoulder support and are ideal to use when sleeping or throughout your normal work day. These are fairly light and comfortable and are typically made of stretch fabric or neoprene. These braces are typically used for minor and short injuries, and are relatively affordable.
Advanced support braces are typically made of thicker neoprene and cover a larger area around the shoulder. There are also fabric versions that usually come with multiple straps, which is what makes them convenient to wear for longer period of time. Moreover, they’re easier to adjust, durable, offer moderate support and can significantly reduce stress on the shoulder.
High support braces are usually used in hospitals as post-operative recovery and immobilization apparel. Most of these aren’t designed to allow movement and can’t be utilised for everyday life.
Brace Mechanism
There are three main aspects to consider when looking for a shoulder brace: shoulder stabilizer, shoulder wraps and shoulder sleeve.
The shoulder stabilizer provides a range of motion or complete immobilization for anterior, inferior, posterior and multi-directional instabilities, rotator cuff deceleration, shoulder AC separation and muscle strains. These braces are designed to assist, stabilize or restrict movement of the shoulder post surgery or post-injury.
The shoulder sleeve lets you just slip your arm into it like a regular shirt sleeve, and you can only use them for a single shoulder. These braces are ideal for the hard-to-fit areas of the shoulder, back, chest, lower and upper arm.
The shoulder wraps help keep your shoulder warm and compressed. They’re adjustable, easy to put on and take off, and are just there for the convenience and light support.