What IS wrong with Taylor Swift’s back? Experts say she’s undergone a posture overhaul to beat ‘Golum-like’ hump
She’s had several aesthetic reinventions over the years — from the curly-haired boho teen, to the edgy artist with bleach blonde bob and bold lip.
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But a new, subtle change in the evolution of Taylor Swift has grabbed the attention of social media users: her newly straightened posture.
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On Instagram and TikTok, hundreds of fitness experts and physiotherapists have given their two cents on the dramatic difference in the megastar’s standing stance.
Meanwhile, on social media forums like Reddit, fans discuss theories as to the reason for Swift’s slumped frame, with some comparing the hunch to that of fictional Lord of The Rings character, Gollum.
Images of Taylor Swift taken between 2010 and 2015 show her rounded upper spine, sparking discussion among fans
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Images of Taylor Swift taken between 2010 and 2015 show her rounded upper spine, sparking discussion among fans
Recent images of the megastar show a newly straightened posture, said to be due to muscle strengthening
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Recent images of the megastar show a newly straightened posture, said to be due to muscle strengthening
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Images taken between 2010 and 2015 show the record breaking artist, 34, sporting a slightly hunched back, while recent pictures from the Eras tour — from which she’s said to have pocketed more than $4billion — show an eye-catching transformation.
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So what is behind her new, perfect posture?
According to one so-called ‘Postural Alignment Specialist’, who goes by Posture Mike on TikTok, Swift, who stands between 5’10 and 5’11, has a ’rounded upper back’, which can cause the head to hang forward, resulting in a hump-like appearence.
Extreme cases of this are known medically as kyphosis, whereby the normal curve in the middle section of vertebral column (the thoracic vertebrae) is more curved than normal.
In a video that’s attracted a million views, Posture Mike explains that this leads to our spine struggling under the weight of our heads — equivalent to a 18kg bowling ball — risking damage to the bones and ligaments in the area.
He goes on to suggest exercises to correct poor posture, including lying on your back with your legs elevated and bent at 90 degrees over a block or stool, while taking big, belly breaths.
‘Hold for five minutes to allow gravity to gently improve your head position,’ he said.
In another clip, US-based physiotherapist Tyler Chong offers movements to correct Swift’s hunched back, including tucking your chin into your neck and then pushing it out again.
‘You should feel the muscles in the back of your neck below your skull turn on,’ he said.
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Meanwhile, Swiss-based stretching studio StretchingLausanne shared a clip entitled, ‘how did Taylor Swift fix her posture’? which suggested a number of exercises that Swift may have performed in order to beat the slouch.
This included bending the shoulder blades back to ‘keep them connected’, lifting the upper body while lying stomach-down on a mat, and stretching the back using the ‘cat-cow’ yoga pose.
Pictured at the 2015 Grammy awards, Taylor Swift appears to have a more rounded upper back
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Pictured at the 2015 Grammy awards, Taylor Swift appears to have a more rounded upper back
In 2008, Swift’s posture appears to be far more rounded than it does now
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In 2008, Swift’s posture appears to be far more rounded than it does now
Experts suggest the dramatic change over the last decade is mostly due to Swift’s intense training regime which has strengthened her muscles
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Experts suggest the dramatic change over the last decade is mostly due to Swift’s intense training regime which has strengthened her muscles
Another contributor to the star’s changed posture could be the unique sports bra she was pictured wearing during rehearsals for the Eras tour last year.
The bra, from fitness brand Forme, costs $182 (£137) and is designed to ‘immediately improve your upper body alignment and body foundation,’ according to the Forme website.
The brand claims that the product was designed by an orthopedic surgeon and uses tension fabrics to apply pressure to key areas on your body, encouraging you to keep your shoulders pulled back and down.
Taylor Swift modelled the hi-tech sports bra that claims to improve posture
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Taylor Swift modelled the hi-tech sports bra that claims to improve posture
However, experts have cast doubt on just how big a role the smart bra played in the change in Swift’s posture.
In a video that’s amassed 652,000 views on TikTok, physiotherapist Dr Dan Ginader said the bra ‘wasn’t as helpful as you might think’.
‘It’s not strong enough to hold you in that posture,’ he explained. Instead, he said the fabric ‘encourages’ the muscles to sit in a certain position — but they will only remain there if they become stronger.
‘It’s your muscles doing all the work, rather than the fabric,’ he said.
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‘It was the amount of work training and strengthening Taylor did in preparation for the tour that did most of the work. The bra was just a gentle coach.’