Upright Go S review: Here's how to fix your bad posture

If working from home has taught us anything it's that sitting uncomfortably for prolonged periods is a drag - but it can actually be doing long term damage.

Whether you were guilty of moving to the couch, your bed, or the dining room table, a return to the office probably helped you appreciate the opportunity of having a desk, office chair, and a more ergonomic set up, so much more.

Given the high levels of stress most of us have faced over the past two years, and our changing work and living environments, putting your posture on your priority list might be more important than ever.

"Bad posture, medically known as postural dysfunction, is when the spine is curved or bent in unnatural positions, putting stress on joints, muscles, and vertebrae," Todd Lynton, VP APAC & EMEA, at Upright tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

"Over time, muscles form a 'memory' of the bad positions, which makes it uncomfortable and painful to retrain muscles back into correct positions.

"There are many dangers of having prolonged bad posture. Long-term issues can include chronic back or neck pain, pinched nerves, headaches and problems sleeping."

How to fix bad posture

The Upright GO S is one of the simplest, most efficient and natural ways to improve your posture. It uses advanced posture training technology to improve sitting discomfort, expand lung capacity and reduce back pain.

I was lucky enough to try out the tiny device that you can either stick to your back between your shoulder blades, or use wearing a necklace, which is said to help correct your posture within two weeks.

The device has around 20 hours of battery charge meaning I could use it for three work days, before it needed a charge. And it easily connected to my Android phone which a relatively simple set up.

The goal is to achieve between 70-100% Upright posture - mine was a dismal 62% when I started this venture. Safe to say we had some work to do.

But over time there was improvement. Without thinking much of it I was making small adjustments when the device buzzed. It was a gentle vibration - which I would liken it to wearing a smart watch. Was it a little annoying, given how much I slouch yes. But did it spark action. Definitely.

And after wearing it for a fortnight, not only was the regular pain in my left lower back less noticeable, but my Upright posture had improved to 71%. Onwards and upwards from here.

Tips for better posture

There are, of course, other small things that you can do to help improve your overall posture.

"Learning how to get better posture has immense benefits, with immediate and long-term health results. From building muscle strength and alleviating pain to increasing concentration and confidence," Todd tells us.

"The great thing about posture is that it can be trained. With practice and small lifestyle changes, you’ll improve your posture and be sitting upright naturally without giving it a second thought.

"When standing keep weight mainly on the balls of your feet, have knees slightly bent, stand straight with shoulders pulled back and down and keep head level (earlobes should be in line with shoulders).

"When sitting, keep both feet on the floor and don’t cross legs at knees or ankles. Try to maintain a small gap between the chair seat and the back of the knees. Always make sure to adjust the seat for lower back support, relax shoulders and keep arms parallel to the ground."

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com.