Correct Posture - An ergonomic office chair & occasional breaks for good posture

If you're like me, and spend most of your day stuck in front of a computer screen sitting on an office chair of unknown origin, you may not be experiencing correct posture, your back and your long-term comfort may be suffering unnecessarily.

There are many easy ways to avoid back and other chiropractic problems associated with prolonged time spent in front of your computer. Firstly, make sure you have a good quality ergonomic office chair with proper back lumbar support, set at the right height for you and your desk..

Stephen Agius (@Back2Chiro) from Back To Basics Chiropractic (clinics located at Kogarah & Parramatta) has some other great advice for you:

A large number of our patients present to the clinic with what many would call the disease of modern man: spinal problems caused by the lack of movement.

With long term lack of movement (which is considered anything over 2 hours in a chair) you start to get a decrease in muscle tone. With a reduction of muscle tone it is harder for your spine to support your body, therefore leading to poor posture. Poor posture can lead to a variety of pain syndromes, including:

• Lower back pain
• Upper back pain
• Neck pain
• Shoulder and wrist pain
• Headaches
• Any combination of the aforementioned problems

However, poor posture can be easily avoided through a range of approaches.

First of all, you must take regular breaks at least every 2 hours. This means get out of your chair for a minimum of 2 minutes. A good practise is to go for a walk to the kitchen and fill a glass of water, then return to your work station. This kills two birds with one stone: guaranteed movement, and sufficient water intake.

Another common attributor to poor posture is a badly designed work station. You must have the computer screen directly in front of your office chair, keyboard and mouse easily accessible, the use of a headset for the phone, and a foot rest. It is recommended that you speak to your chiropractor about specific advice on your desk setup.

One piece of advice which usually applies to males is to remove all possessions out of their back pockets. How many times have you seen a guy remove his wallet which resembles the size of a small ladies purse? Sitting on something so bulky can change the level of the pelvis, the foundation for your spine, which of course can affect the rest of your spine.

Advice which applies mostly to women is to not cross your legs while sitting, and place both feet on the ground or on a foot rest, as this too can lead to spinal dysfunction and the exacerbation of pain syndromes.

The final piece of advice I can offer you is that if you have ANY concerns about spinal pain or problems, or your work place set up, please consult your qualified local chiropractor. The old adage is very true: prevention IS better than cure!

Stephen Agius
Back To Basics Chiropractic
http://www.backtobasicschiropractic.com.au

Kogarah Clinic
Shop 1a, 24 Belgrave Street Kogarah NSW 2217
Phone: 02 9588 7000
Email: kogarah@backtobasicschiropractic.com.au

Parramatta Clinic
13b Westfield Shopping Town
Cnr. Argyle & Marsden Streets Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: 02 9687 6003
Email: parramatta@backtobasicschiropractic.com.au

  

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