In May 2019 researchers from Denmark and Australia published their review of the medical scientific literature to assess the the effect of posture-correcting shirts aimed at reducing pain or postural discomfort and optimising function/posture. A total of 6 studies were included in the review. These studies were varied in their aims, outcomes and methods and provided contrasting results. Results showed that overall the posture-correcting shirts appeared to alter posture and improve discomfort, energy levels and productivity. However, the quality of the studies was poor to fair, with only one being of good quality. In addition, the risk of bias was high. An important limitation of all the studies was that they were conducted in pain-free individuals. The researchers therefore concluded that based on the above, there is no good quality evidence to support a recommendation for the use of posture-correcting shirts as a management strategy for musculoskeletal pain. In addition it was felt that promotion of this product may reinforce the inaccurate and unhelpful message that poor posture leads to pain. Further research is therefore required to assess the effectiveness of such garments in individuals with musculoskeletal pain but until then the use of posture-correcting shirts for musculoskeletal pain cannot be considered as being supported by current evidence.
Palsson TS et al. The use of posture-correcting shirts for managing musculoskeletal pain is not supported by current evidence – a scoping review of the literature. Scand J Pain. 2019 May 10 [Epub ahead of print]