Upright Go Review - Measuring Posture

I am uncertain of how many times I have told patients that posture may be influencing their back, neck or shoulder pain, but I am pretty sure it is a cause of many people's problems. Unfortunately, there are few ways to assess or measure one's posture. The question of "how would you describe your posture at work?" is often met with a simple "terrible!" or "bad!".

For those that know me, I have been a fan of wearables in helping track various metrics from heart rate, forces during running, ground contact time and spine range of motion etc. I believe that putting a measure on something is the only true way to know whether you can fix it. I believe the same is true for posture.

The Upright Go is one of those wearables that will track posture and I have been trialing one over the last week. I have used other devices such as the Vimove 1 and 2, along with the LumoBack and LumoLift. All of these devices can help with both measuring and improving posture, but I find both the Upright Go and the LimoLift to be the most convenient. Sure, they are not as accurate as the device I use here at the clinic (Vimove) but for the simple task of measuring and retraining, I find this device more than enough, especially for the price.

​The device works by placing it between the shoulder blades and calibrating the position (ie your ideal posture). You then get a reminder (small vibration) when your upper back tilts forward for a certain amount of time and a certain degree (all user configurable). This serves as a way to remind you throughout the day to sit up.

The fact that it is so simple is both a plus and a minus. Some complain that the data is not that useful, inaccurate or has risks for human error in the calibration process. The reality is that when I compared the data side by side from the Vimove sensors (the device I use in clinic that is much more accurate and measures multiple points along the spine), the general trend was almost identical. The Upright Go is far more simple and accessible to most people and the price point is very good for the potential benefit.

The Upright Go is a device that I think will improve your posture and I would certainly recommend this for people who are looking for a simple way to measure and fix this common problem.

​Ian

Please note that I am in no way paid for this review and I have purchased this device on my own.