A sock for posture correction

Because taping techniques meant to correct ankle posture are “time consuming and a hassle to apply,” student researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a posture alignment sock to address pain and discomfort caused by improper alignment. The project was in collaboration with a startup founded by a physical therapist and a patient. The therapist discovered that back and shoulder pain are correlated with the ankles, which indicates the need for proper alignment of the ankles, knees and hips to support correct posture. The students created the design of the knit and studied how the sock itself could respond to the wearer in order to improve posture. The team consisted of Marissa Noon, undergraduate research assistant; Robert Seevers, M.S. candidate in Textile Engineering; and Ryan Darden, M.S. Candidate in Textile Engineering. Photo: North Carolina State University