Ergonomic Chairs Can Only Do So Much
We as humans are always looking for quick answers to our problems. When we start to feel uncomfortable in our workstation it is natural to first think of things you can buy, upgrade, or replace to relieve your discomfort. Many people attribute back related pains and strains to inadequate seating, and get it in their head that buying a fancy new ergonomic chair will make them more comfortable and productive. In most instances, this is correct. Most computer chairs out there that you can buy at your local office supply store are not adequate for daily use, and a more advanced chair may very well reduce your symptoms and solve your dilemma. However, in some cases your situation may need to be looked at from a different angle to save yourself time, energy and money.
Ergonomic chairs can only do so much. Let’s face it, most of us don’t get enough exercise and sit for most of our day, every day. Regular stretching and exercise is vital to physical health and well-being, and if you omit it from your daily routine you’re setting yourself up for bad things to happen. Keeping a proper posture while sitting down requires work from your back, abs (core) and legs. If these areas of your body are not loose and in shape you’re much more likely to feel pain or discomfort after long periods of being seated at the computer. I’m sure you’ve noticed yourself hunched over your keyboard on many occasions; it’s where the body wants to go without the proper support. When you have a toned and “engaged” mid-section and lower body you will sit up straighter and find yourself hunching over much less often. This will help prevent any back related injuries or discomfort and may save you the frustration of expecting products to make you feel better. Plus, you’ll just have a greater sense of well-being from the exercise and will definitely increase your productivity.
You should still have the proper seating in your work station just remember how important physical activity is to your health and how there really isn’t any substitute for it. One thing you can try to implement some movement into your day is using an exercise ball as your chair sometimes. These inflatable balls range from 55cm to 75cm in circumference and provide what is called an “active sitting” experience. This means that while you are seated on the ball your core muscles are engaged, so you are essentially working out while sitting down. Since you need to slightly balance yourself on the ball to prevent from tipping over your body is forced to use your muscles to keep you in place. This is a great tactic that is even recommended by many chiropractors, but it can be a little intense over long periods so we suggest alternating the ball with a good quality chair throughout your day.
Some of the most comfortable ergonomic office chairs are made by a company called Neutral Posture. Every part of their chairs is customizable so you can build one that is the perfect size with all the features you need. The 8000 Series is the most popular model among computer users and you can get more info about it on their website www.neutralposture.com. If you decide on one of their chairs you should look at ErgoDirectUSA.com when shopping around. They’re an authorized dealer with an easy-to-use website so customizing your chair and choosing all your options is very easy. Their pricing is also the lowest allowed by the manufacturer. Neutral Posture enforces what is called “MAP” pricing on their products, which means all authorized dealers are required to sell the chairs at the same price. This makes it better for everybody, and makes it easier for the buyer because it’s one less thing to worry about so you can just buy from whoever has the best shopping experience.
