Friday, January 23, 2009

Get Rid of Back Pain with an Ergonomic Office Chair

By Luci Dueck

If you regularly sit in an office chair for extended periods of time, you run the risk of developing lower back pain. If you already have this condition, it can become even worse. Being seated in a stationary position contributes to pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and arms. It also puts pressure on the spine.

Those who spend a lot of time seated in a desk chair might find themselves slouching. This position places strain on the spinal discs and stretches the ligaments in the spine.Over time, this will create lots of problems in your 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.

But it's not good enough to just assemble it and sit down. It's critical that ergonomic office chairs be properly adjusted for the needs of your particular body.

You should adjust the backrest so that it supports the lumbar area of your lower back. Adjust the height of the chair so that your feet are able to rest comfortably on the floor, with your thighs horizontal. Otherwise, you'll need a footrest.

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 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. Get up out of your chair, do some stretches, or go for a walk.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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