For over eight hours every weekday, thanks to my content-driven (but totally worth it!) desk job, I'm a sloucher. It's hard not to be when you're staring at a screen, knee-deep in an article about STI testing [1], hormonal belly fat [2], or Jason Momoa's muscles [3]. Sometimes I slouch when I'm standing, too. I did gymnastics for over a decade [4] and am still, thanks to the rigorous conditioning [5], very muscular in my upper body. My shoulders seem to round when I stand, and after I heard of a sports bra that's supposed to help correct that, I jumped at the opportunity to try it out.
IFGfit, founded by CEO and orthopedic surgeon Stephen Liu, MD, sells v-neck shirts, hip-hugging shorts, leggings, and bras made with anti-slouch, FDA-approved fabric technology called PPR. The technology promises to train the body to correct its posture, breathe better, and recover quicker [6]. Dr. Liu told POPSUGAR that he was inspired to action while his mom was battling cancer. "I felt a strong will to improve her wellness, posture, and breathing without restraining her with straps or braces," he said. PPR took years of testing to innovate and perfect.
IFGfit sent me the Women's Lisa Posture Bra, which is supposed to open up your chest, bring your shoulder blades closer together, and, in doing so, restore posture [7]. It was created for all sizes and can be worn daily during work or physical activity, Dr. Liu said. It almost sounds too good to be true — and at $178, I was unsure if it was worth the hype but eager to test it out for the sake of my spine. Ahead, check out what I thought and more about its design and where to purchase it.
Here's a Closer Look at the Front
There's a high-rise neckline, and the bra comes in sizes small through extra-extra large.
Here's a Closer Look at the Back
The back has a keyhole opening and fits similar to a vest.
Test #1: Commuting and Sitting at Work
During my commute to work, I walk up many flights of stairs. When I'm getting from the subway back to where I need to be for the bus ride home, there's an underground passageway that features an intimidating incline. Often, I slowly start to lean forward, hunching my shoulders in the process to build momentum as I walk up those stairs and that incline. Wearing this sports bra actually made me stand taller while weaving through people and trudging up those parts of my commute. I felt good.
While sitting at my desk, I still slouched (I'm a sloucher, after all), but the bra would tug at my shoulders every time that happened. I was able to catch myself and adjust my posture. Normally I can go hours without realising I'm hunched over; this alerted me within minutes.
Test #2: Working Out
I wore this sports bra during different workouts. Here's the lowdown:
- Yoga: When I want to do yoga, I normally follow along to Yoga With Adriene [8] videos on YouTube, and one of the biggest reminders she gives you is to relax your shoulders, pull them down, and squeeze them together with your chest lifted. Wearing this sports bra made me do that without a second thought, and I noticed that my posture in different poses was better — I sat up straighter and, as Adriene likes to say, with integrity.
- Lower Body: I did a lower-body workout full of squats and lunges, and I didn't feel as much of a difference because I'm normally pretty good at keeping a flat back and my chest raised. Though form wasn't an issue, the bra still felt supportive.
- Upper Body: Same goes for my upper-body workout. I didn't feel like the sports bra was making my form better, per se, since I normally don't slouch while lifting, but I was made aware of the fact that my chest was up and my core was tight, given the bra's fit. The shoulder presses [9] I did with dumbbells, for example, weren't any different than normal. Some people have said that wearing the sports bra helps them lift heavier weights [10], so I'll have to try that next time.
- Bike: I rode a stationary bike for half an hour. I can't say that it made me sit up straighter, though I did feel that similar pinch in my shoulder blades.
Ultimately, I didn't feel any difference in my breathing, but the bra made me more cognizant of my form regardless of what I was doing.
Is It Worth It?
This sports bra is on the expensive side, but if you're comfortable spending money on it, give it a try. I felt more aware of my poor posture while I wore the bra. It was easier to correct myself, especially while sitting at my desk at work. An added bonus was feeling a bit taller on my commute to and from the office. As for my workouts, I noticed a difference in my yoga poses more than anything else, but if you're someone who needs to be reminded of proper form while lifting weights, you will probably benefit from the Women's Lisa Posture Bra [11] ($178). Ask your spine what it thinks!