Stories & Feedback

Claire

Claire decided she needed to change her posture following a whip lash injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident 6 years previously. Her slouching had come on after the injury and was accompanied by constant neck/shoulder pain which sometimes extended down her back and into her hip. She was also experiencing 2 - 3 severe headaches each week. When the pain was severe, she could not rotate her neck. Not only did she need to change her habitual posture to reduce her symptoms, but she was concerned about how her slouching made her look. She had been attending physiotherapy and massage regularly. She knew about the importance of good posture, she exercised regularly, but just could not correct her habitual slouch.

Claire worked 3 - 5 days per week in a retail outlet. She commenced wearing her BackTone a couple of times each day at home, whilst walking to work and sometimes whilst at work. She found it difficult to wear at work because of the need to frequently crouch and bend to retrieve stock so we concentrated on wearing it for periods at home and when walking to work. Claire began to notice a change within a fortnight. Her posture "felt good " and she was noticing whenever she was slouching and was able to straighten up. Her headaches and neck pain reduced.

Over the following 2 months Claire further reduced her symptoms so that her neck generally "felt good" instead of sore. Neck pain or headaches reduced to about once a week and they tended to recover easily. She changed her habitual posture, looks great, fell pregnant and now has a boy. She reports no problems with her neck pain during her pregnancy or after the baby's birth.

She is still aware of her posture and corrects whenever she notices a problem.

Ron

Ron is a 68 year old road cyclist. He presented with pain over his trapezius muscle - between his shoulders and radiating to either side. He was taking 4 - 6 Paracetamol and Codeine capsules per day.

The pain was particularly severe after cycling for about 30 minutes - on a bike with low handle bars. It persisted for quite some time after he stopped cycling. Ron’s posture was slouched forward in the thoracic (chest) area, with a marked forward chin thrust. He was fitted with a BackTone which he wore daily.

After a few weeks Ron reduced his slouch and his chin thrust. He became much more aware of his posture and was able to recognise easily when he was slouching.

He changed his bike to one with horizontal handle bars as he realised that the previous one did not allow him to operate with appropriate posture. His pain reduced markedly to the extent that he is no longer taking the Paracetamol and Codeine.

He still develops some neck discomfort after cycling for 30 - 40 minutes, but it resolves after only 5 - 10 minutes of walking about - and without medication. He also reported that his cycling speed and skill has improved (He overtakes the pack uphill).