Hey there everyone, Dr, Chris here checking in from warm and sunny Jacksonville, Florida. Today I wanted to talk with you about your
posture. Specifically, your posture when you’re doing what way too many of us
spend our day doing: sitting at a desk! We’ve talked before about how sitting at a desk isn’t
very good for you, but sometimes there’s just no way you can avoid
it. You’re stuck behind your desk for hours a day, working at your computer and
answering phone calls. Well, you still don’t have to accept poor posture! In
fact, that is more reason than ever to fight against it! Here are some desk
chair solutions that can help you combat ‘sitting disease’!
The stand-up desk
More people than ever are trying stand-up desks these days,
and that’s great because it means they
are getting easier and cheaper to find! Now you may be thinking, “That’s great
doc, but there’s no way I can stand at a desk all day!” Are you sure? People
say that it is easier than you expect! A good stand-up situation won’t leave
you flat on your feet, either. If you have a foot rail, you can put one foot up and shift your weight from one foot
to the other. Leaning against a tall stool can help too. But people report
feeling more energized and productive when they stand, so you may find that you
don’t want to lean on anything!
Adding a podium to
your regular desk
If you aren’t ready to make the leap to a full stand-up
desk, encourage yourself to at least stand up more frequently. One way to do
that is to put a podium or raised stand on part
of your desk that will encourage you to stand up for some tasks, for instance, when
you are making phone calls. Changing up the position you are in can greatly
enhance your postural health!
Walking desk
If you are the kind of person that likes to read or do other
activities on the treadmill at the gym - why not work on a treadmill too? This is a more expensive and difficult setup to
achieve, and it certainly isn’t for everyone, but there’s question that walking
all day while you work would be terrific for your spinal health!
Exercise ball
The benefit of sitting on an exercise ball is that to stay balanced, your body has to be constantly making tiny adjustments. This results in a workout just from sitting which engages your
entire core: your abs and your lower back. As a bonus, the fact that there is
no back to this ‘chair’ discourages slouching. Make no mistake, though, an
exercise ball chair is a real workout, and you need to ease into it! You can
start by sitting on it for just an hour a day. Putting less air in the ball
will make it easier to balance on early on. Eventually,
you should be able to work up to sitting on the ball for several hours at a
time.
Balance stool
Balance stools work on
the same general principle as exercise balls, but they have one big advantage:
they won’t go rolling around your office every time you stand up! They bounce
up and down and wibble and wobble from side to side, making sure you work out
those core muscles maintaining your balance. They cost $200 and up.
Kneeling chair
Kneeling chairs help your posture by taking the pressure off
your spine and putting it on your knees and shins. You still sit on a seat, but
there is no back, and your legs are angled downward. Your knees and shins rest
against a pad for support. For many people,
this setup is terrific, as these backless chairs encourage them to sit upright
and maintain correct posture. For those who have knee problems, this kind of
chair might not be the right choice, however.
Recliners
If ergonomic comfort is what you want in your office chair,
what is more comfortable than a recliner?
The ability to lean back eases pain for
all kinds of people with spinal problems. Get a lap tray and put a wireless
mouse and keyboard on it, and it will be just like you are parked at your desk. Even better, a recliner is not much more
expensive than a top-of-the-line ergonomic office chair - and sometimes way
cheaper. The only downside is that a recliner may be too comfortable - if you’re snoozing instead of working, that’s a
problem!
Wrap-up
I want to stress that no matter what your desk setup is that
you should change it up often. Get away from your desk, walk around, and do
some stretches. If you need to, set a timer to remind you to do these things!
No matter what your posture is, being stuck in the same position for long
periods of time is hard on your spine. So take regular stretch breaks and work
out those kinks!
If you have concerns or ideas about your own desk posture, I’d love to talk to you about
it. Schedule an appointment with my office today. The phone number is (904)
398-4860.
Yours in health,
Christopher B. Renne, D.C.
4111 Atlantic Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32207
www.activechirocenter.com
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