One guy I used to know had to wear an orthopedic back brace for several months. As he was both a biker and an army officer, I simply had to know what happened, which was: “I just got up from my desk and then I couldn’t breathe.”

That isn’t the whole story, of course. As it happens, poor posture can lead to serious harm over the long run. It’s also a very difficult habit to break: like breathing, we just don’t notice it, especially when sitting. I know that I am guilty of this, and unless you work standing up, you probably are too.

So, aside from buying special furniture, there really should be a practical solution to the problem of unnatural spine curvature, which can evolve into a variety of painful medical conditions. And there is.

While no device can actually train your core muscles for you, this comes close enough for practical purposes. In simple terms, it’s kind of like a bra for your shoulders – when your posture isn’t optimal, it places pressure on your back or chest, reminding you to straighten up. It’s not an actual brace, though: it will let you know when your shoulders are dropping, but it doesn’t actually provide spinal support itself.

Importantly, it’s adjustable to fit men, women, and children of almost any size. Made of a breathable latex-like material, it’s comfortable enough to wear throughout the workday and won’t show through most clothes.

It’s also cheap enough to get one for every member of your family. If you know what orthopedic surgery costs, and perhaps also how much more confident and attractive good posture makes you look, this quickly starts to sound like an investment.