Sitting up straight is not the best position for office workers, a study has suggested.Scottish and Canadian researchers used a new form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show it places an unnecessary strain on your back. They told the Radiological Society of North America that the best position in which to sit at your desk is leaning back, at about 135 degrees. Experts said sitting was known to contribute to lower back pain. Data from the British Chiropractic Association says 32% of the population spends more than 10 hours a day seated. Half do not leave their desks, even to have lunch. Two thirds of people also sit down at home when they get home from work. The research was carried out at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen. Twenty two volunteers with healthy backs were scanned using a positional MRI machine, which allows patients the freedom to move - so they can sit or stand - during the test. Our bodies are not designed to be so sedentary Traditional scanners mean patients have to lie flat, which may mask causes of pain that stem from different movements or postures.
In this study, the patients assumed three different sitting positions: a slouching position, in which the body is hunched forward as if they were leaning over a desk or a video game console, an upright 90-degree sitting position; and a "relaxed" position where they leaned back at 135 degrees while their feet remained on the floor. The researchers then took measurements of spinal angles and spinal disk height and movement across the different positions. Spinal disk movement occurs when weight-bearing strain is placed on the spine, causing the disk to move out of place. Disk movement was found to be most pronounced with a 90-degree upright sitting posture. It was least pronounced with the 135-degree posture, suggesting less strain is placed on the spinal disks and associated muscles and tendons in a more relaxed sitting position. The "slouch" position revealed a reduction in spinal disk height, signifying a high rate of wear and tear on the lowest two spinal levels. When they looked at all test results, the researchers said the 135-degree position was the best for backs, and say this is how people should sit.
Dr Waseem Bashir of the Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Alberta Hospital, Canada, who led the study, said: "Sitting in a sound anatomic position is essential, since the strain put on the spine and its associated ligaments over time can lead to pain, deformity and chronic illness." Rishi Loatey of the British Chiropractic Association said: "One in three people suffer from lower back pain and to sit for long periods of time certainly contributes to this, as our bodies are not designed to be so sedentary." Levent Caglar from the charity BackCare, added: "In general, opening up the angle between the trunk and the thighs in a seated posture is a good idea and it will improve the shape of the spine, making it more like the natural S-shape in a standing posture. "As to what is the best angle between thigh and torso when seated, reclining at 135 degrees can make sitting more difficult as there is a tendency to slide off the seat: 120 degrees or less may be better."
E-mail this to a friend Orthopedic Office Chairs for People with Bad Backs These orthopedic office chairs, with substantial lumbar support for bad backs, ensure serious levels of work can be completed without the continual distraction of back pain. All of our orthopaedic chairs help people with bad backs sit more comfortably for longer, minimising serious shoulder discomfort as well as lower back pain, and improving seating posture whilst sat working at their desks. Rainbow Zebra supplies high back office chairs for painful backs with free next day delivery on every order. Vista HB 24hr Orthopaedic Chair Posture Kneeling Stool Wood Frame Wave Mesh Orthopaedic Chair Vegas Mesh Back Chair Items 1 to 20 of 58 total Posture Kneeling Chair Steel Frame Chiro Mid Back Chair Leather Executive Office Massage Chair Ergo Luxury Mesh Chair Ergo Plus 24hr Chair Sanderson Mesh Back ChairErgonomic chairs are an ideal investment for any company or individual - as well as helping to reduce back pain they can improve well-being and productivity.
The key is balance and movement. The human body isn't designed for sitting down, and while we are specialists in supplying the very things that help you sit down, we make sure the chairs we do sell are designed to keep your body supported and active! If you are searching on Google for an ergonomic chair, posture chair, kneeling chair etc, you will inevitably be bamboozled by the number of different chairs on offer. At Shape we don't expect you to be able to find the solution at your fingertips - and whilst we have designed our site to help guide you through to a few options using our new filter system, we would love to hear from you so that we can discuss your individual requirements and help you make the right choice for you. Whatever your choice, our posture chairs are designed to fit you. If you can't find what you are looking for, please do let us know and we will do all we can to assist you in your search. Our specialist ergonomic office chairs are designed for those in need of more tailored support....
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Anyone who works a typical 9-to-5 job knows that sitting is the bane of their existence. Our backs and overall body structure aren’t made to withstand hours sitting at a desk, but work often demands just that. Opting for the proper office chair, one designed to cradle you as you work and provide you with the ample comfort, is a practical and well-advised solution. More: Don’t just sit there, check out the best standing desks you can buy The best chairs go beyond what you’d expect. Many offer resounding ergonomic benefits, breathable mesh backing, and excellent lumbar support, while simultaneously granting you a swath of customization options spanning everything from colors to contours. None of them are going to be a cure-all for your workday woes — at least, not in the way a standing desk might be — but customized suspension and the appropriate aesthetics go far in the long haul. The Best: Herman Miller Embody So, what is it about the Embody we hold so revered?