Maintaining proper sitting posture is essential for everyone, but it is even more important for individuals that work at a desk all day.
Reasons to Improve Sitting Posture
Poor posture can lead to back and neck pain and loss of core muscle strength, which can lead to back injuries due to insufficient support of the spine. Reasons to improve sitting posture include increased energy and self-esteem, lower levels of stress, better productivity, and increased oxygen levels because sitting up straight opens the chest.
Tips for Sitting Correctly
To ensure proper sitting posture at work, you should take care to adjust your chair and monitor height to prevent slouching or straining. Your monitor should be at a level that allows you to view it straight ahead. Your chair should be adjusted to a height that ensures your thighs are parallel to the floor when your feet are flat on the floor and your spine is against the back of the chair.
Your keyboard should be at an angle that aligns your hands and wrists with your arms, and it should be within easy and comfortable reach when your arms are bent at a 90 degree angle.
At least twice an hour, you should get up and stretch and walk around your desk or office. This helps keep your blood circulating and prevent lethargy, which can reduce productivity and mental alertness.
Some individuals find putting a towel or pillow between their lower back and the chair back helps improve posture and reduce back strain. Others prefer to sit with a small ball between their back and the chair back, and still others prefer to sit on a large exercise ball or ergonomic chair with no arms or back to help their circulation and posture.
If you are experiencing back pain from poor posture or weak core muscles, our chiropractor offers posture screenings, chiropractic adjustments and massage to reduce pain and improve posture.
What do you believe are the proper ways to sit at work?