Sunday, January 11, 2009

Get Rid of Back Pain with an Ergonomic Office Chair

Many people develop lower back pain as a result of sitting in a desk chair for the greater part of each day. If you already have this condition, it can become even 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 position places strain on the spinal discs and stretches the ligaments in the spine.If this goes on for too long, it can lead to major damage to the lower back.

Fortunately, there's a way you can minimize the strain to your body that arises from this situation. Get yourself the best ergonomic chair you can afford, and use it properly. 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 critical that the chair be properly adjusted for the needs of your particular body.

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. Otherwise, you'll need a footrest.

Your feet should not be dangling while you're seated. This compresses the tissue on the back of your thighs and knees and leads to pain in the lower legs.

You'll need some space between the back of your knees and the front of the chair, approximately the size of a fist. If there isn't, lower the chair slightly. If possible, tilt the seat slightly forward to further relieve any pressure.

An ergonomic chair is specifically engineered to prevent and eliminate 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 good ergonomic office chairs. But they won't help you that much when it comes to preventing back pain.Choosing a chair with ergonomic features is your best option to ease or prevent back problems.

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