Since 2016, Upright has been helping people improve their posture and correct poor body alignment, which has been on the rise for some time. People are eating more and moving less. They’re increasingly hunched over desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. They subject their bodies to strange positions on chairs and couches as they binge the latest series.

Back pain is one of the 15 chronic conditions that drive 80% of the total costs for all chronic illness worldwide. MSK conditions affect half the population and collectively represent the number one reason for absenteeism at work. In addition, MSK problems can inhibit mobility and interfere with a person’s ability to manage other health concerns. Appropriate care for MSK conditions reduces expensive avoidable costs related to surgery, imaging, ER visits, specialist visits and the challenging sequelae of opioid use.

Collaborating on Comorbidities
DarioHealth and Upright are a perfect fit for several reasons—first, because people with one chronic condition often have others. For example, more than 75% of patients with Type 2 diabetes or obesity report at least one joint mobility issue.  And the exercise and mobility required to improve diabetes can be very challenging with chronic pain and musculoskeletal comorbidities.

Together, the combined capabilities of DarioHealth and Upright will provide a single platform that improves the quality of life for most people with multiple chronic conditions, or comorbidities.

MSK is consistently one of the top priorities for clinical improvement and cost reduction for self-insured employers and health plans. For our employer and health plan partners, the addition of Upright’s solution to Dario’s integrated platform means a greater ability to address a broader spectrum of needs in a more comprehensive way.

Customer-Centric Care
The two companies are also aligned on a singular commitment to customer experience excellence. DarioHealth and Upright both grew from an initial focus on D2C digital health — investing the time and resources to optimize the customer experience for greater satisfaction, engagement, and integration into daily life.

Through our consumer DNA we are uniquely tuned for improving health outcomes through consumer-centric engagement and behavior change.

Unlike solutions that only connect users to a physical therapist or provide digital-based education and coaching, DarioHealth and Upright solutions are designed to become consistent companions for each user. Average daily usage of Upright is 5.5 hours, compared to the industry average of 15 minutes. This type of integration into daily living is the key to impacting user behaviors and creating improved health outcomes.

An Evidence-Based Approach
With a combined and growing user base of more than 150,000 people, DarioHealth and Upright are using proven principles of data and behavioral science to facilitate a revolution in personal healthcare management.

With a shared approach to building highly engaging and clinically effective products, we anticipate a rapid and seamless integration to reduce employer, payor, and provider healthcare costs while improving the long-term quality of life for end users.

A Healthier Outlook
Both our companies have thrived because we relentlessly focus on the root cause of most chronic health problems: human behaviors. We understand how difficult it can be for people to get and stay motivated, so we apply all the tools at our disposal to empower them to make the right things to do the easy things to do.

Helping people stay healthy between doctor visits will continue to be our guiding principle. One of the best things about digital technology is that it puts control into individual hands, but we understand that people need more than just advice and an app. They need data transparency, personalized journeys, rewards for progress, and access to live coaches for extra support.

DarioHealth has always been committed to these evidence-based requirements for success. And starting today, with the acquisition of Upright, we will continue to apply them to conditions across the MSK spectrum.

The post Leading a Revolution in Personal Healthcare Management: DarioHealth + Upright appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

We celebrate this milestone and see it as a key step in our continued journey to provide accessible back-health and musculoskeletal care.

DarioHealth offers one of the highest-rated diabetes and hypertension solutions on the market, revolutionizing how people with chronic conditions manage their health. By joining the Dario family, we will integrate our platform for musculoskeletal care together with Dario’s portfolio of digital care programs.

We’ll be able to innovate faster, make even better products and services, and keep supporting our customers in their journey towards better health.

Dario stands apart from the rest with its shared consumer history and user-centric culture.

That culture is critical to creating sustained behavioral change that drives long-term success, and we believe that together with Dario we can deliver an integrated, virtual platform for lasting and impactful behavioral health outcomes.

We are excited about this partnership and its impact on our combined members and partners.

For more information, please contact Ori Fruhauf at press@uprightpose.com.

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Although times are hard and your day-to-day has changed, you don’t have to put everything on hold completely. It’s more important now than ever to keep yourself busy and maintain your health to protect not only yourself but others as well. Staying mentally and physically healthy should be a top priority during these times.

Here are a few ways to remain healthy during quarantine: 

Maintain a Routine 

Although your gym may be closed and your daily routine is no longer consistent, you should still focus on your health. It’s easy to put your exercise routine on the back burner with everything going on, but you should actually be prioritizing your health even more now than you were before.

Start by creating a daily routine to keep yourself on track. This can include waking up at the same time each day, having a healthy breakfast, completing a workout, and going to sleep at a reasonable hour every night. The consistency of a daily routine will help you feel more accomplished throughout the day and a consistent sleep schedule will leave you feeling refreshed. If you feel like you can’t keep up with a daily routine, try keeping track of your tasks and workout routine in a daily planner or on an online calendar. This will give you a little accountability throughout your week and remind you of everything you want to accomplish. 

Check out some helpful health and wellness apps to support your new routine

If you’re working from home or taking online classes during this time, you want to make sure you remain focused and productive outside of the office or classroom in an ergonomic environment that may not be optimal. The best way to achieve maximum productivity is to have the right tools available to you.

Make sure you see  clearly

As we are spending some much of our time in front of screens, we must take care of our eyesight. An app that might help your ability to work is the Warby Parker mobile app. This app allows you to upgrade your prescription eyeglass frames and lenses or virtually try a pair of blue-light glasses. Incorrect prescription lenses and blue-light can cause headaches and overstimulation, so it’s important to keep your eye health top of mind when working from home.

Take care of your back

Many people are worried about their posture nowadays. Longer screen time takes its toll on our body, as people move less and work in a sub-optimal ergonomic environment. , Another health product you could also try using is the UPRIGHT GO. Through the use of a wearable device that naturally helps you improve your posture by providing biofeedback, UPRIGHT GO trains you to sit up straight and offers plans tailored for each person. Maintaining proper posture stimulates blood flow and comfort, which then promotes concentration, so this device and app are worth the investment. 

Clear your mind

A lot of people are experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety due to job loss, fear of illness, and uncertainty right now. If you’re one of those people, try using a meditation app like Headspace. Although you may not think meditation is for you, using a guided app that walks you through it is really beneficial and can help you with sleep, anxiety, anger, and focus. 

Keep active

 If your health goal is to lose weight and keep it off or just to find a way to stay active while sheltering inyou should look into downloading an app that helps you track your activity and gives you customizable training plans, like the running app Map My Run. Being able to customize a training routine that is specific to you and your goals will make it that much easier to stick to them long-term. 

Use Telehealth When Needed 

A big concern for many people at the beginning of this pandemic was how to deal with ongoing health problems, as a lot of doctor’s offices were shut down or had limited in-person appointments. However, just because you’re not able to see your healthcare provider in person does not mean you cannot see them at all. Healthcare providers are using third party services like Doxy.me to connect with their patients through personalized links and video calls. There is no download or account set-up necessary, which makes it very convenient for patients and it’s completely protected by data privacy requirements HIPAA, PIPEDA, and GDPRs. This makes it even easier than before for you to speak with your doctor because you can do so without even leaving your home!

There is so much technology available to us in this day and age that make it possible to continue being healthy amidst the pandemic. Now is the time to make sure you are healthy and safe, so it’s a good idea to take advantage of these advancements in your daily routine.

The post Don’t Put off Your Healthcare Needs During Quarantine appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

If there’s one thing you can change to make spending eight hours a day in an office easier, it’s your chair.

There is no shortage of evidence proving that being stuck in a chair for too long can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and worsen back and neck pain. Many people who have office jobs develop problems like numbness, spinal misalignment, joint pain, neck pain, and herniated discs.

Two separate studies, published in 1990 and 2003, found that productivity goes up more than 17% when individuals work in an ergonomic setting. The right chair combined with healthy posture training like the UPRIGHT Go and Go2 personal posture trainer can also reduce workplace injuries, lower back pain, and poor posture.

An ergonomic chair can help you maintain the right posture to avoid strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back pain, and spinal disc injury.

What do you need to check when purchasing a new Ergonomic Chair? 

1. a seat pan (the flat surface area of the chair we sit on, the same part where the levers for the height adjustment are attached) with dense, small-cell foam padding or coils
2. a backrest that is either curved or small enough to fit the small of your back
3. soft armrests with adjustable height and width
4. hydraulic seat height adjustment
5. tilt adjustment to transfer some bodyweight to the chair’s backrest.

Office Chairs – The Dream Team

1. Freedom Office Desk Chair By Humanscale

   Humanscale’s Freedom Desk Chair is one of the most popular ergonomic office chairs on the market. Designer Niels Diffrient aimed to design an office chair that automatically adapts to the user, allowing them to move freely from posture to posture. The Freedom Desk Chair also comes in a variety of colors and it has a recline action to keep you comfortable throughout the day. When you recline, the chair reacts accordingly to adapt to your back. Needless to say, it’s a great choice if you want an ergonomic design. Just be ready to pay.
   

   

2. Aeron Ergonomic Office Chair by Herman Miller

   Since Aeron debuted in 1994, the team at Herman Miller has learned a great deal more about how best to support people in the varied postures they adopt throughout the workday. They’ve updated it with a more refined tilt mechanism, and adjustable PostureFit, a feature patented by the company which provides back support at the base of your spine, helping your pelvis maintain a natural forward tilt to prevent slouching. By doing so, PostureFit keeps your spine in healthy alignment to help eliminate lower back pain. No wonder it comes at a price.

   

3. Amia Office Chair by Steelcase

   The Steelcase Amia may not be quite as high-tech, but it’s still got its secret weapon.
   Amia chair’s backrest is the LiveLumbar™ technology inside. Different than a typical lumbar “cushion”, LiveLumbar is a system of flexors that move with your back for consistent, dynamic support.
   Oh, and it even comes in a wide range of colors, which always makes us smile.

   

Office Chairs – The Affordable Option

1. Elusion Series Mesh by Alera

   Alera chair has ergonomic design adjustments to fit multiple users. It also sports a cool, breathable mesh back and a contoured seat cushion with waterfall edge to help relieve pressure on legs. The Alera chair lacks many of the adjustment features of more expensive chairs, but you can adjust the tilt tension, seat height, and arm height and width to adjust the chair to your body. This chair was designed to give you a professional, efficient working environment at a good price.

   

2. SOHO Ribbed Management Chair by Laura Davidson

   Made from the highest quality materials, the SOHO has an adjustable backrest and durable leatherette seating surfaces that are made to last. It is definitely a looker, probably one of the cooler looking chairs on this list. It comes in many colors including Upright Green and features an attractive aluminum base. Add to a two-year warranty and the chair is a must-see for home or office.
   Bear in mind, you can remove the steel arms but can not adjust it to your desk. Can you tell we love this color?

   

3. Classic Balance Ball Chair by Gaiam

   Our weirdest yet coolest chair is also the most affordable chair on this list.
   Welcome to the world of active sitting and a chair that just might change your everyday working experience. Gaiam Classic provides all-day ergonomic support for a stronger, healthier back. Its secret sauce is the balance ball: You get your work done while working on your core as well. If you want a healthier and affordable option, Gaiam has got your core – and will leave your pocket alone.

   

The post 6 Work-from-Home Ergonomic Chair Recommendations appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

Introducing the UPRIGHT NECKLACE, a game-changing new accessory that gives you the option to wear your GO device without adhesives. Thanks to its innovative design, the necklace manages to be convenient and flexible without compromising on accuracy.

Now it’s easier than ever to get the hang of healthy posture!

Necklace vs. Adhesives: What’s the Difference?

Wearable devices are, by definition, meant to be worn on your body. The UPRIGHT GO and GO 2 are no exception, sitting snugly on your upper back where they can best track your posture. Until now, users were only able to keep them in place by means of special adhesives that are applied directly to the skin. But variety being the spice of life and all, we thought it fitting (pun intended) to offer an alternative to that tried-and-trusted method. And so, the UPRIGHT NECKLACE was born.

Wondering if this nifty new accessory is right for you? Read on…

Super simple to use

We’ve designed the UPRIGHT NECKLACE to connect to your GO device in seconds, because who’s got time to fumble around? Simply remove the adhesive from your device with the removal tool that came in the original box. Then, connect the necklace to your GO device via the USB-C or Micro USB connector (depending on which model you have). Finally, open the magnetic clasp, position your GO on your back, and connect the magnets so they rest below your collarbone. You’ll hear a reassuring “snap” as the magnets come together for a secure fit.

Built to hang around

“I used the reusable adhesive strips for a couple of weeks but I decided to invest in this necklace to get better convenience.”

Zaid I., Verified Purchaser

While our adhesives remain a popular option, there’s no getting around the fact that they need replacing after 3-10 uses (depending on your skin type). For some customers, this is a fair trade-off as they do provide a more discreet fit under your clothes. However, if sustainability is of greater concern to you, you’re probably better off going with the necklace option. Made of durable materials, this accessory is designed to accompany you throughout your posture journey and beyond. As one user aptly put it, “I can wear it all day without thinking about it. And no consumables to worry about.”

Hair to stay

“For someone who has a hairy back like me, the necklace is a breeze!”

Anthony S., Verified Purchaser

When you remove any kind of adhesive from the skin, no matter how gentle, there’s always a chance you’ll lose a few hairs in the process. While the vast majority of Upright customers manage just fine with the adhesives, users with more hair on their backs definitely appreciate having a non-sticky option. We chose a high-grade silicone for the UPRIGHT NECKLACE that rests comfortably on the back without adhering to the skin – perfect for all our Abominable GO-Men and Women!

Another benefit of the necklace is that it doesn’t attract dirt, so your UPRIGHT device stays squeaky clean for longer. Nice!

An Instant Hit Among Upright Users

The UPRIGHT NECKLACE hasn’t been out 5 minutes and already the positive reviews are starting to roll in. One happy necklace owner explains why she gave it a 5-star rating in the Upright Store:

“I absolutely love using this necklace. It’s easier to see and remember to use my UPRIGHT GO. Black goes with everything and it works just as well as the stickies. I like it better than using the adhesives.”

John D., Verified Purchaser

Are you ready to take your posture training to the necks level?

GET YOUR NECKLACE TODAY!

The post The UPRIGHT NECKLACE: Another Way to Wear Your GO appeared first on UPRIGHT Posture Training Device.

You might be wondering how posture relates to the senses? We’ve seen how the benefits of good posture alleviate back pain, increase focus and create a leaner and taller physique. But what about reconnecting us to our atmosphere? Can good posture help us stop and smell the roses? Absolutely. Here’s how a posture sensor can help engage your senses.

Sight

The eyes are an extension of the brain and an important part of the body’s central nervous system. Why? Light strikes photoreceptors on the retina (behind the eye), that send signals through the optic nerve to the visual cortex, located in the back of the brain. The brain then processes information through the spinal cord and throughout the body. Upright posture assists these connections in traveling throughout the body. Conversely, bad posture obstructs the connections and can even lead to blurred vision.

Sitting upright enables light to transmit freely throughout the body and engage clearer vision. What’s more, when the spinal cord is aligned, the chest upward and chin parallel to the floor, a wider field of vision allows sights to enter into your eyes that otherwise might’ve been missed by slouching. Perhaps you hadn’t noticed the robin singing outside of your window or butterflies fluttering on the breeze during a brisk walk? With upright posture, you’ll catch more of these beautiful interactions throughout the day.

Touch

The brain is the great communicator of the body, and sends signals to the muscles via single nerve cells in the spinal cord called motor neurons. In order to activate the body to touch something, we rely on this smooth communication from the brain. Upright posture increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain by up to 40 percent. By sitting and standing upright, we foster the communication of the brain to the muscles, thereby engaging the powerful sense of touch.

Smell

A study on chemical senses demonstrated that posture affects auditory sensitivity, more specifically, sitting upright significantly helps to heighten olfactory sensitivity (the sense of smell). Sitting upright increases neuronal activity, or the rate at which neurons fire from the brain, and engages your sense of smell. So yes, sitting upright can indeed help you stop and smell the roses!

Sound

One of the fundamental principles of musicianship is good posture. Why? Consider singers who rely on breath capacity to engage their lungs. Or the concert pianist whose perfectly straight back posture allows the range of motion necessary to command the spectrum of notes. More relatably, ever notice how slouching seemingly shuts out the world around? The echoes of a colleague vying for your attention easily fade into the background. Truth is, when we’re in an upright position, we’re more alert and in turn, able to hear a greater depth of sound and audible signals around us.

Taste

The term “foodie” describes a person who has an immense interest in food. Yet, too often we rush through meals without even tasting a bite. Can good posture help us adopt the mindset of a foodie by savoring every bite? Mindful eating encourages us to devote our full attention to the physical act of eating, that is to eat slowly and without distraction. As demonstrated in any public cafeteria or eatery, hunched over devices at mealtime has become the status quo. Not only is this distracting, but it encourages slouching. Removing distractions during meals helps put the focus back on the incredible sensation of taste while also improving posture. Sit upright and relish in each sweet or savory, tantalizing bite.

Final Thoughts

Upright posture is instrumental in engaging the body’s senses. However, maintaining good posture is challenging to monitor daily. That’s why the UPRIGHT posture sensor is instrumental in posture training by vibrating when you slouch and turning good posture into a daily habit.

Now that you’re upright, you can better smell the espresso, hear the hum of the wind, see the smile of a passerby, taste the tart sweetness of a berry, feel the coolness of a raindrop. UPRIGHT helps kick your senses into overdrive to help you feel present, aware and engaged with the beauty all around you.

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