COLUMBUS, Ohio - Getting into shape often starts in the middle, with the conditioning of the muscles in the body’s trunk and hips. Experts caution, however, that injury can result without proper posture.

A new device developed by researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center can help people to train their brain to control their posture, according to OSU physical therapist Chris McKenzie. The device, a core stability monitor worn on a belt, provides audible feedback alerts if the body goes out of alignment, McKenzie says.

“Moms always told us, ‘Sit up straight. Good posture position.’ This is actually something that is kind of your ‘mother away from Mom,’ if you would. It can provide that feedback that mom used to give you – but now the device actually can give you.”

If your spine is not in correct position, McKenzie says, problems can develop in your neck, shoulders, back and joints.

“People that have the low back pain, or the ankle pain, or the knee pain, or the hip pain, we’re finding that if we can teach them better control of their posture, or the trunk, then they are actually having better improvement of their symptoms elsewhere in their body,” McKenzie says.

Initial testing showed that improved core stability, as measured by the device, could help predict a baseball pitcher’s success. While their research started out in an attempt to improve athletic performance, McKenzie says, it now has moved on to injury prevention.

McKenzie says his hope is that the device, called “Perfect Posture,” can eventually be used by the general population, in clinics, rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes.

The research has been accepted for publication by The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

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