Sunday, January 18, 2009

Prevent and Reduce Back Pain with an Ergonomic Chair

By Luci Dueck

Many people develop lower back pain as a result of sitting in a desk chair for the greater part of each day. If you're already experiencing problems, they will only get worse. Pain and discomfort in the arms, shoulders, neck and back is often a result of sustained periods of sitting. As well, pressure is placed on the spinal column.

People who sit in an office chair at length have a tendency to slump. This posture stretches the spinal ligaments and strains the spinal discs.If this goes on for too long, it can lead to major damage to the lower back.

However, it's not difficult to address this problem and reduce the pressure on your body. Purchase the best ergonomic chair you can find, and adjust it correctly. This specially designed chair gives your back the best support possible and helps you to maintain proper posture when seated.

However, there's more to it than just setting it up out of the box. It's essential that ergonomic office chairs be adjusted to suit your body structure.

The back rest should be adjusted to provide support for the lumbar region of your lower back. The height of the chair should be such that your feet are resting on the floor with your thighs in a horizontal position. If not, you will have to use a foot rest.

You need to avoid sitting in a position where your feet dangle. This compresses the tissue on the back of your thighs and knees and leads to pain in the lower legs.

There should be a space about the size of your fist between the front of the chair and the back of your knees. If there isn't, lower the chair slightly. If possible, tilt the seat slightly forward to further relieve any pressure.

An ergonomic chair is designed to reduce back pain. But for optimal back health, you also need to get up and move around a lot. Sitting for long periods of time is not good for your back, regardless of how comfortable an ergonomic chair feels.

Therefore, you should make a point of getting out of your chair frequently throughout the day. Stand up, go for a short walk, or even stretch for a few minutes.Even just a few minutes of activity will get your blood circulating.

Basic desk chairs won't cost you as much as a good ergonomic chair. However, they're of little use for the prevention of back pain.Choosing a chair with ergonomic features is your best option to ease or prevent back problems.

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