How Can A Chair Save Your Spine?

Dr. Ivan Hernandez of Executive Park Physical Therapy offers some advice on how to sit down during work hours.

Yonkers, NY (prHWY.com) May 15, 2012 - In a 21st century office, work typically involves a lot of sitting in an office chair (usually in front of a computer). Did you know that sitting is actually puts more stress on your spine than standing? To avoid developing lower back problems, it's critical to use an office chair that's ergonomically designed. What does ergonomics mean? It is the applied science of equipment design (in the workplace) intended to maximize productivity by reducing an individual's fatigue and discomfort. An ergonomic chair, for example, is one that supports your lower back and helps maintain good posture. The big question is - How do we identify the best ergonomic office chair? All ergonomic chairs are not built the same. Since every individual is built differently, it is best to look for a chair that can be easily adjusted in terms of chair height, armrest height and back inclination. There are many types of office chairs and no single chair is the best, but a few simple tips can save your joints a lot of discomfort. You are about to avoid the biggest mistakes most individuals make with chair selection. If you have any doubts, always speak to your physical therapist to help you find the right chair for your specific needs.

Five key factors to consider while choosing an ergonomic chair:
* Seat height. This should be adjustable. Depending on your
height, this should be between 16 to 21 inches from the floor.
When sitting, your feet should be flat on the floor and your thighs
horizontal (or parallel) to the floor.

* Seat width and depth. Standard seat width is 17-20 inches.
The depth (from the front to the back of the seat) needs to be
enough so that you can sit with your back against the backrest
with about 2-4 inches between the back of the knees and the seat
of the chair. The forward or backward tilt of the seat should be
adjustable because the right inclination can significantly reduce
the strain on your lower back (call us to learn more)

* Backrest. The ideal backrest should be 12 to 19 inches wide.
It should be able to support the natural curve of the spine.
The more we sit, the more we tend to slouch. Therefore, proper
lumbar support provided by your chair's backrest is very important to help support your spine.

* Armrests. Office chair armrests should be adjustable. They should allow your arms to rest comfortably and shoulders to be relaxed. The elbows and lower arms should rest lightly, which means the armrests should neither be too high nor
too low.

* Swivel. This allows you to easily rotate to reach different areas of your desk without straining your spine.

http://www.executiveparkpt.com/contact.html

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Tag Words: executive park, physical therapy

Categories: Health

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