Blog posts tagged with 'homewood chiropractor'

USE AN ERGONOMIC CHAIR

                                    FIGURE 1 – BASIC ERGONOMIC CHAIR

The most ideal seated position is one that changes. An ergonomic chair allows you to adopt different seated positions more easily than regular chairs. Be sure the ergonomic chair allows seat adjustments forward, backward, and side-to-side. It needs to have an adjustable seat height and wheels. If it has arms (which is not necessary), be sure the arms are height adjustable. Do not place your shoulders in a shrugged position. It is equally important that the chair allows for a slight recline. In fact, 95-105 degrees is the ideal seat back position, not 90 degrees. The ergonomic chair in FIGURE 1 is a basic ergonomic chair. I featured this chair to show that it is not necessary to spend a fortune on an ergonomic chair to reap its benefits. 

Last month's blog discussed the importance of using a lumbar support. You may use a lumbar support in combination with an ergonomic chair. However, not all ergonomic chairs will require the use of a lumbar support.

   USE A LUMBAR SUPPORT

                 CHAIR                                   CAR

My previous blog discussed how to sit properly. You should know by now that sitting is harmful, but sometimes necessary. When sitting, it's important to sit with proper posture. But when that is not feasible, the next best option is to use a lumbar support. Most seated surfaces are designed for comfort, but fail to provide proper support for the back. This lack of support can cause disc herniations, also known as bulging discs. It is this repetitive misuse that leads to 85% of low back injuries. To prevent injury from sitting improperly, use a lumbar support. Lumbar supports are inexpensive and may be transferred to different seated areas (see images above). Most cars are equipped with an inherent lumbar support. However, I believe an accessory lumbar support is more efficient. Make sure you are using it correctly. If used correctly, your low back will not have a “C-shaped” hump while you use the support, and you won’t slouch. The lumbar support should not come up higher than the bottom of your shoulder blade. 

You may visit our "Products" section to find the exact lumbar support that I recommend.