Frequently Asked Questions
- I have back pain. Are PosturePals™ suitable for me?
- Who are PosturePals™ not suitable for?
- How long do they last?
- Can I shower with PosturePals™ on?
- Can I re-use my PosturePals™?
- Can use PosturePals™ when exercising?
- What should I feel?
- Which PosturePals™ support should I choose?
- Are there different sizes?
- How do I apply PosturePals™?
- The PosturePals™ has slipped a little. Is this normal?
- How do I remove the adhesive residue from my skin?
- Do I have to order online?
Q . I have back pain. Are PosturePals™ suitable for me?
A . People suffering acute back pain that commenced following bending, lifting or twisting activities can generally wear PosturePals™. Similarly PosturePals™ can usually be applied to people who suffer back pain, neck pain or headaches following prolonged or repeated positions such as gardening, bending, driving, sitting at a desk or after lying down. If you are unsure, please consult your Health Care Practitioner prior to application. See question two also.
Q . Who are PosturePals™ not suitable for?
A . While PosturePals™ are unlikely to exacerbate your symptoms people who have spinal stenosis, fractures or stress fractures, have a skin condition, who have suffered recent trauma such as a fall or motor vehicle accident or are unsure if PosturePals™ are suitable for them should seek advice from their Health Care Professional prior to use.
The adhesive on PosturePals™ is of hypoallergenic medical grade. However people with known sensitivity to medical adhesives such as those found on sticking plasters or strapping tape or who have broken or frail skin should not use PosturePals™ or should test on a very small area of skin first. If you would like a small test disc of material please contact us.
PosturePals assist when you can adopt a good posture but find that through habit or fatigue, you tend to slump or slouch. If you are very stiff and cannot achieve a good position in the first place, PosturePals will not address this and you made need some specific exercises to reduce stiffness and improve flexibility.
Q . How long do they last?
A . Depending on your requirements, we recommend that PosturePals remain in place for three days. If you are tolerating them well, have no skin reaction and they are continuing to prompt you to correct your technique, you can leave them in place longer. You may choose to use them as and when they are needed e.g. for a long flight or a long day at the computer come tax or exam time. Some people like to use them to create a good impression at job interviews or work presentations as they help them to look good and to maintain a strong, confident posture. Others still use them to correct technique whether they be ballroom dancing, running, riding a horse or swinging a golf club. In these circumstances you may only need to wear them while you are performing that particular activity.
People’s skin can react differently. In high humidity or with excess sweating some people find that their skin will begin to itch necessitating premature removal. If this is the case we suggest that you try to use your PosturePals at times when you are less likely to be in the direct sunlight or sweating excessively.
Some people find that the itching subsides as soon as they cool down. They are then able to continue wearing the device. If the itching continues it is best to remove the PosturePals support to prevent or limit skin irritation.
Inappropriate exercise may also reduce the lifespan of your PosturePals. Refer to the question ‘Can I use PosturePals when exercising?’.
Q . Can I shower with PosturePals™ on?
A . Yes! We don’t expect you to go for a few days days without a shower. PosturePals™ are made from closed cell foam, which means that they do not absorb water. The adhesive should tolerate several quick showers before it begins to peel away from the skin or foam.
Q . Can I re-use my PosturePals™?
A . No. PosturePals™ are single use items. Once removed they are discarded.
Q . Can use PosturePals™ when exercising?
A . It really depends on what type of exercise you are doing. PosturePals are designed to encourage you to return to a neutral position i.e. that you are up straight. If the exercise that you are doing requires a lot of bending, twisting or overhead arm activity (if using the thoracic support) then PosturePals probably won't last too long. You are not meant to push through the resistance or hang off the device.
We have athletes using them for things like equestrian events, some dancing, golf, jogging, archery and shooting where posture is important and the spine is intended to stay in a good, neutral position.
The other issue is perspiration. The adhesive is resistant to fluids however some people find that if they are in the hot sun or perspire a lot their skin will begin to itch and become irritated sooner than it otherwise would. The support should be removed if this occurs. This may or may not affect the exercise you are doing. Some people will use it during a training session or competition for the few hours that it is required and then take it off and throw it away while others will leave it on for four or five days as you might do if you know you have a busy week at the computer.
It may be best to time your use of PosturePals to periods when you won’t be participating in sports or exercise that will compromise the performance of the support.
Q . What should I feel?
A . You should feel resistance to movement as your spine bends. Try to avoid hanging off the device. Generally the force exerted by the PosturePals™ will encourage you to return to a good position where you will no longer feel any pulling from the brace.
If you feel any burning, itching or irritation of the skin remove the device immediately and seek medical attention if necessary. Some people can have a nasty reaction to adhesives resulting in severe blisters.
Although irritation is rare it is generally caused by the PosturePals™ Thoracic support presumably due to the larger surface area in contact with the skin. If you find that itching has commenced after a day or two you might wish to try the PosturePals™ Lumbar instead. This will still help you to correct your shoulder posture also as outlined in the next question.
Due to the altered muscle activity required to hold you in a good position, you might experience some muscle soreness and fatigue. To combat this, gently tilt your pelvis forwards and backwards and from side to side. With the X-Brace you can also gently pull your knees to your chest (one at a time) while sitting.
Q . Which PosturePals™ support should I choose?
A . We are unable to give specific advice and the following is of a general nature only.
We recommend that you consult with your Health Care Practitioner if you have any concerns.
The PosturePals™ Thoracic support is suitable if you have a tendency to adopt a round-shouldered, forward head posture. It can be very effective in standing or sitting.
The lumbar device also helps in this regard and can be of particular benefit to those who require more arm movement or who find that the large surface area of the Thoracic PosturePals causes itching.
If the curve in the lower back is corrected it is very difficult to slump through the shoulders.
Generally if you stay upright in one part of the spine, the remainder follows.
The PosturePals™ Lumbar support is suitable for maintaining the arch in your lower back. This is important if you find you tend to slouch in your chair.
The Lumbar support is also helpful to maintain good spinal posture when bending or lifting and can be used for training your technique or for identifying activities that require repeated or sustained bending. You can then modify your activities to reduce this.
The Lumbar support can be used to encourage a neutral spinal position in your golf swing.
People often find that if they correct their low back posture, the upper back posture also improves and vice versa. You may wish to try both supports and see which one best suits your needs..
Q . Are there different sizes?
A . The lumbar device is a ‘one size fits most’ design. The Thoracic device comes in the Original and a new Small size. The PosturePals Thoracic Small device measures 30cm across at the shoulders and 25cm high. This is compared to 36cm wide and 30cm high for the PosturePals Thoracic Original.
Please remember that you must allow an additional centimetre or two in width across your shoulders to accommodate the stretch that is applied to the PosturePals support during application.
Q . How do I apply PosturePals™?
A . For instructions on how to apply PosturePals Thoracic click here 
For instructions on how to apply PosturePals Lumbar click here
You can also watch it on video at www.youtube.com/posturepals
Q . The PosturePals™ has slipped a little. Is this normal?
A . It is quite usual for the ends of the device to move slightly (1 cm) over the course of a few days. With the Thoracic brace this generally happens after the first night particularly with people who sleep on their sides. Lying on the side often requires the shoulder blade to be drawn forward around the chest wall and this can place a slow, sustained stretch on the device, which causes it to migrate slightly. This should not affect the function of the device.
If the wearer repeatedly moves through the resistance the device is designed to slip slightly rather than to generate excessive tension on the skin resulting in blisters or irritation.
Excessive movement (>2cm) might be caused by placing too much tension on the arms of the device during application. The other main cause is that the wearer is continuing to move as they would without the brace. You must listen to your PosturePals™ and when you feel the resistance you must modify your activity to correct your posture.
Q . How do I remove the adhesive residue from my skin?
A . An aggressive adhesive is required to keep the device in place for an extended period. When you remove your PosturePals™ brace it is common to have some adhesive, generally an outline of the device, left on your skin. To remove work Baby Oil or Eucalyptus Oil into the skin and rub with a flannel/face washer or similar.
Q . Do I have to order online?
A . No. Ask your preferred Physiotherapist or Health Care Provider if they stock PosturePals™. If not tell them to contact us.
If you would like to order directly but don’t wish to use the secure payment gateway hosted by PayPal please download an order form and post with cheque or money order made payable to either AlphaSport Medical Supplies or Practitioner Supplies. Corresponding addresses are provided on the form.
