Why Postural Health Is Not Something Office Workers Can Ignore

We are spending more time sitting down than at any other time in history. Most people have a sedentary job that involves sitting at a desk for more than eight hours a day. On the face of it, this may seem like a good thing but if we adopt a poor posture at work we could be storing up a lot of problems for the future.

Employers are increasingly recognizing that they need to protect their employee’s posture as well as looking after them in other ways. They are also finding out that good posture is good for increasing productivity!

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Why is the office environment bad for posture?

The human body has evolved to move around a lot a lot and adopt different positions during the day. If you have to adopt any position for a prolonged period of time it puts a strain on joints, ligaments, and tendons. In time, chronic inflammation can build up as your body suffers continual damage. The inflammation starts to press on nerves and you start to experience pain and discomfort.

The best way to overcome this is to move around during the day as much as you possibly can.

What can be done about it?

The best way to deal with postural problems at work is to invest in some ergonomic office furniture. If you are operating on a tight budget this may be concerning to you. However, the good news is that you do not have to spend a fortune to get a chair that will protect your muscles and joints. You just have to be careful about which cheaper model you choose. You can find out about office chairs that are available for less than $100 at Office Chairs Only. The reviews will give you all the information that you need about the design and functions of the chair, its construction and how it stands up to the wear and tear of normal office life.

There are some features that are especially useful at protecting postural health. You should choose a chair that has an adjustable height. Not all office workers are the same height so one chair will not suit them all. If the chair is too low to the ground for you, you will end up in a crushed position which puts a strain on your lower back. If the chair is too high for you, your feet will be swinging in mid-air and this puts a strain on your upper legs and lower back. You should be able to sit with your back flat against the backrest and your feet flat on the floor.