Customer Reviews:
 Get a good stretch and curvature throughout the thoracic spine December 2, 2008
It's generally easier to get a good, arching bend in the lumbar spine than it is to get a nice arch in the area of the thoracic vertebra. Many of us are stiff and straight in that area, or downright convex. After years of inactivity and hunched posture, I have a moderate thoracic kyphosis, so unfortunately, I'm one of the convex ones. I've been using this product for 10 to 15 minutes most days, for several months now, and the degree of my kyphosis is actually getting less! My hope had been that using this prop would keep my kyphosis from getting worse over time, but I didn't expect to see it improving. Surprisingly to me, I'm seeing some reversal of the kyphotic curve and not having as much frequent strain and tightness throughout my traps and rhomboids (which is exacerbated by the abnormal kyphotic curve).
I agree with a previous reviewer that the prop is narrow and takes some getting used to. It didn't take me more than a few sessions with it to become accustomed to the narrowness and get comfortable with it, though. The prop's narrow profile is what lets the shoulders drop back, which in turn beneficially helps the chest open. This prop is the only type I've found for arching the back that doesn't prevent the shoulders from moving back to some extent, and that's been important for my progress in rehabilitating my posture and my spine's thoracic curvature and mobility. Even the foam roll I purchased from a physical therapist a couple of years ago keeps my shoulders from dropping down and limits the amount of chest opening I can get.
The feature of having two different degrees of curvature--one steeper, and the other more moderate--is a good one. When I first started using this prop, I couldn't tolerate the steeper curve and needed the gentler slope. Now that my spine and upper back are loosening up, it's possible for me to use the steeper side of the prop.
For an active person with a healthy, flexible spine, upper back, and shoulders, this prop might not be needed, and the money might just as well be spent on a good bolster or other prop that's a little wider and cushier. But for the problems I've described, this prop has been a great help, and since I was diagnosed with cervical disc degeneration and thoracic kyphosis 3 years ago, I've tried any number of props and aids. The 3 best things I've found for helping improve my stiff thoracic spine's mobility and chest opening are (1) a consistent and deepening Iyengar yoga practice; (2) the regular use of this prop as part of that practice; and (3) hanging off of the bed for several minutes, a few times each week, with arms extended back and light weights held in the hands to help stretch the chest open and arch the thoracic spine.
For further description of improving spinal mobility and chest opening by hanging off the bed with weights, see and -- I have no affiliation with this website or its author; I found the descriptions & comments about the benefits of bed-hanging to be helpful with respect to working with my stiff spine and back, and similar to what my yoga teacher has told me.
 Back Arch is not much for the money February 7, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Although cleverly designed, this back arch is very narrow and takes some getting used to. I think it would be a better value at half the price.
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