Minimizing the Risk of back pain from using office chairs

Working in an office usually involves spending a significant amount of time sitting in the office chair in a position that adds stress in the spine. Therefore, to avoid compounding or developing back problems, it's very important to have an office chair that supports the lower back, ergonomic and promotes good posture. There are many types of office chairs available for the use in the office. No specific type of office chair is essentially the best, but there are some things that are essential to look for in a good quality office chair. These vital things will allow the user to make the chair work well for his or her specific requirements and needs.

Sitting in an office chair for long periods of time can surely cause low back pain or worsen an existing back pain. The basic reason behind this is that sitting in office chairs in a static posture that increases stress in the arms, back, shoulders and legs, and in particular, can add great amounts of pressure to the spinal discs and back muscles.

Office chairs are tools that, when used properly, can help an individual maintain good posture while sitting and maximize back support. However, simply owning an office chair is not enough, it is also important to adjust the office chair to the proportions of the user’s body to reduce aggravation to the spine and improve comfort.

The first step in setting up office chairs is to set up the desired height of the user’s workstation or desk. This decision is determined mostly by the height of the person using the office chair and by the type of work to be done. The height of the desk or workstation can vary greatly and will require different positioning of the office chair, or a different type of office chairs altogether. Once the workstation has been placed, then the user of the chair can adjust the office chair according to the physical proportions.  Elbow measurement, thigh measurement, calf measurement, resting eye level position needs to consider before finalizing office chairs.

No matter how comfortable is the office chair, setting for a long time in a static posture is not good for the back and it’s a common reason for back pains and strains. To avoid placing the back on the chair in one position for a long period, remember to stretch, stand, and walk for at least 1 or 2 minutes every half hour. A 20 minute walk will help even more, supplying healthy blood flow that brings nutrients to all the spinal structures. Traditional office chairs are designed to provide complete back support. In general, stretching and moving on a regular basis throughout the day will allow individuals to keep the joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons loose, which promotes an overall feeling of relaxation, comfort, and ability to focus the work.