Have you ever thought about how much time you actually spend sitting in an average day? I bet you haven't. Office workers will spend anywhere from six to seven hours per day sitting. Then you have to add the time it takes to commute back and forth to work, eating lunch and dinner and possibly relaxing on the couch at the end of the day. On average, most people sit for a total of about ten hours per day.
How's Your Posture?
Most of us do not even realize how we sit. We just simply sit. But, the way we sit can have negative effects on our bodies especially the back. We must always be aware of our posture in order to ensure that our spine is aligned and not being put under any duress. Below you will find a list showing you how to sit correctly to minimize any damage to the back:
1 - It is very important to take a break at least every hour. Take advantage of a "dead" period and just stand and stretch for a minute or two. If you are unable to stand you must, at the very least, shift your position.
2 - Always make sure that your knees are lower than your hips. The back of your knees should never touch the seat.
3 - You should always keep both feet firmly on the floor. If your feet are too short to touch the floor, invest in a footrest.
4 - Never cross your legs while you are sitting. Your ankles should always stay in front of your knees.
5 - Having a chair with an adjustable backrest is crucial. If your chair has one, adjust it to support the arch in your lower back. If your chair does not have one ask your employer to get you one, or you can purchase one yourself.
The Importance of Sitting Properly
Good posture is important for long term health and helps to reduce the risk of degenerative arthritis and joint pain. In your back there are several ligaments, tendons, and combinations of soft tissue holding everything together. Ligaments hold our joints together and when these ligaments get overworked, stretched and strained a person can suffer from joint injuries. Once the ligaments are damaged the muscles will no longer work properly causing the muscles to use a lot of energy and become weak and tired. Sitting properly helps keep the ligaments strong, reduces muscle fatigue, the muscles use less energy and they do not get tired as easily.
Many of us would agree that we don't give a second's thought to how we sit; we just sit. This is possibly something we have done since childhood. It would be a good idea for your musculoskeletal health if you spend the next 30 days really paying attention to how you are sitting. Compare your sitting style to the correct way to sit in the list above and focus on changing your sitting patterns to match that list. Experts say that it takes at least 30 days to make or break a habit; so by this time next month you should have developed a better posture.
If you need an expert consult, find a local chiropractor who is trained in body mechanics to fine tune your habits. He or she will be able to tell you what you are doing right and what you need to improve. They'll be able to give you good advice on how to maintain your good positions and change your bad habits. They'll also be able to help your whole body function better through potential chiropractic treatments.
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