Correct Sitting Posture
Were you paying attention to how you were sitting? Probably not! By becoming more aware of sitting posture we can usually reduce the muscle tension and back stiffness produced by poor sitting habits. There are many things to consider before making an important investment in an office chair since job performance and job related health are important for all office workers. Take these basic suggestions into consideration in order to know how to choose the right office chair. Also, be sure to compare prices, features, styles and warranties before making a final choice. Office Chair - How to Choose the Right OneKnowing how to choose the right office chair can be just about as important as buying a car for some people, especially those who spend almost 8 hours a day sitting at a desk. Most people don't think about the importance of what they sit in during their work day until pain, fatigue or job related injuries begin to take a toll on their physical well being. Many times, these difficulties can be alleviated or altogether avoided simply by choosing the right office chair in which to perform daily job functions. There are several important things to consider when choosing the best office chair for your work and personal health situation. 1. What type of office work do you perform? If your job requires you to sit hours with little movement other than computer related tasks or telephone tasks, it is very important that you choose a good chair that is designed to provide body support and relief for repetitive motions during your work day. Many ergonomically designed computer chairs may be the perfect solution to alleviating strain and avoiding serious problems such as carpal tunnel and repetitive movement syndrome. It is no light matter to avoid developing these problems as proven by the many cases of workman's compensation that are filed each year as a result. 2. What is your health status? Not only should you consider the type of work you perform each day, but also what kind of physical shape your are in personally. If you exercise each day, are fit and trim and have good muscle support as a result of moderate weight lifting exercises, then you may be fine in choosing a more generic office chair that offers moderate support and features. The better shape you stay in physically, the better you will function at the office even if your job is more sedentary. Good muscle tone and a healthy body will naturally provide more lumber support for your back and neck region. If you are not in the best of health for any reason, you may also need to consider perhaps an ergonomically designed high back office chair for extra support and features. 3. Will you be the only person using your chair? Many offices expect several people to be able to use any particular chair for obvious reasons of expense and convenience. However, in order to get the best use out of a chair even if it's for multiple worker office use, it is best in the long run to purchase a chair that has as many adjustable features as possible. This will allow each user to adapt the chair to his or her needs and provide them with the best support possible short of giving them their own personal chair. A personal office chair for each worker is the absolute best option for health and productivity, but that is not always possible due to budgetary concerns. An adjustable office chair can satisfactorily provide much of what each worker needs. |
||
Don't slouch or slump. Keep your tailbone snug to the back of your seat, with your back either against the back of the chair or in a forward position. However, if leaning forward make sure that your pelvis, chest and head are relatively parallel with each other. Relax. While working, it is easy to become intense and uptight, which can cause the back, neck and shoulder muscles to tighten and feel overworked. Try to relax so that your muscles can more easily rebound into their natural position. Observe leg crossing patterns. Although leg crossing should not be encouraged it does serve the purpose of stabilizing our body and can be very comfortable. However, when crossing your legs be aware that if you often cross in the same direction, your pelvis and lower back continually curve sideways, in only one direction. If you have the tendency for a one-sided leg cross, either avoid crossing your legs all together or alternate sides regularly. Change sitting positions often. Inactivity can be one of the biggest culprits in back, neck and shoulder pain after sitting for long periods of time. Continually, shifting your pelvis and doing a few chair exercises may help reduce muscle tension. Sit in ergonomic posture chairs. The best chair for long term back posture support is an adjustable chair that allows for individual control over seat height, arm rest height, and backward and forward tilt. The chair should provide adequate lumbar support so that the lower back arch, your lumbar lordosis, can be maintained naturally and also have well padded seats and soft armrests for comfort. Use lumbar support.When an ergonomically designed chair is not available choose a chair that does not have a soft seat whereby your pelvis "sinks" into the chair. You should feel that you are sitting ON the chair, not IN the chair. If necessary, provide your own lumbar support with either a purchased lumbar support cushion or your own improvised form of one. |
What Makes Mesh Chairs Ergonomic Office Chair?To be qualified as ergonomic Office Chairs, the office chairs have to have properly support the users. Without good back supports, they can't begin to be called "ergonomic". Ergonomic Office Chairs mold the chairback to the users and to take strain from the back by supporting the user's posture. When lacking sufficient support mechanisms to the chair back, the person sitting in the chair will experience back pain and even leg problems. Mesh chairs are becoming increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to Herman Miller's Aeron chair. The mesh backs are designed to let air flow between the user's body and the chair. They relieve posture strain. However, to go one step further, a mesh chair back with lumbar support that utilizes hot and cold gel pack with massaging will promote blood flow in the lumbar area and will actually supply sufficient nutrients to the back. It helps the user especially during extended period of sitting. Because the breathable fabric allows the proper flow of air, either hot or cold, it promote actual healing that most people will only get when going to chriopractors or professional spa. With hot and cold gel pack on the mesh chairback, it provides healthy regulation of the user's body temperature and makes working a lot more comfortable. Consider the following chairs that offer Orthopedic benefits: |
|
