While not the sexiest or cheapest purchase, an ergonomic and supportive office or desk chair is a worthwhile investment. Dr. Gbolahan O. Okubadeho, board-certified spine and orthopedic surgeon from New York and New Jersey and founder of the Integrative Spine Institute, says sitting at a desk for hours can lead to back and leg stiffness.
“If you use a non-ergonomic chair, things get even worse,” Okubadejo told The Huffington Post. “Prolonged sitting increases pressure on the affected area of the body, leading to muscle tension and pain.”
In layman’s terms, an ergonomic chair provides maximum comfort and efficiency. Okubadejo says this can be broken down into buoyancy, shape, and moderate stiffness, giving some (but not too much). “These features will provide the most ergonomic environment for maximum support and minimum pain,” he said.
Cathy Ellis, a retired physical therapist and former clinical director (and my aunt) of the spine program at Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital, adds that the most ergonomic chairs are the most adjustable and customizable.
“A good work chair should have adjustable parts because each of us has a unique body type,” Ellis said. “The position of the back directly affects the position of the neck and arms. If you have back, arm or leg injuries, it can also affect how you sit.”
Plus, says Ellis, the most ergonomic chair is the one you use. If something is so hard that it hurts your hips, or if you don’t like the way your armrests sit, you may be drawn back to the couch or kitchen table.
Jnai Porter, a licensed massage therapist, certified lymphedema specialist and owner of Loose Massage Therapy Plus in Detroit, Michigan, says switching to a more comfortable chair can help reduce the effects of prolonged sitting, muscle fatigue and poor posture. extend the period.
“Bad posture can lead to neck stiffness/pinching, mid-back strain, spinal curvature, and lower back muscle fatigue due to lack of lumbar support, mid-upper back support, and head support,” says Porter. “Prolonged sitting at a desk can also cause compression of the sciatic nerve, which can cause pain/discomfort at the nerve pathways: lower back, buttocks, buttocks, groin, tibia, insteps. that a person may have an illness/injury.”
Hours of flexing in a low-quality chair can lead to reduced circulation and blood flow, and even cause swelling in the lower extremities, Porter says.
Ellis notes that when you are sitting, the load on your lower back is 40 percent greater than when you are standing. “The pressure compresses the discs in the lower back and puts pressure on the spinal nerves,” she says.
To relieve this spinal pressure and prepare yourself (and your back) for success, you need to find a chair that is supportive and comfortable. “Seat depth should not be too deep or too short,” Ellis said. “When your knees are at a 90 degree angle and your feet are on the floor, a 2-finger space from the back of your knees to the seat is a guideline you can use.”
She said: “I recommend an ergonomic work chair that can be controlled or adjusted to suit sitting height, standing height, with adjustable keyboard/PC area, the desk should be a double chair for sitting and standing.”
Below we list carefully tested options that meet the recommendations of these experts. The next time your neck and shoulders hunch over like a sad dying plant, your back feels like a block of concrete, and you suspect a half-broken chair you found on the sidewalk is to blame, check this list before buying a new one. one.
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Post time: Sep-07-2022