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.
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.
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.
