If you have an office job, chances are that you sit at a desk for the majority of your day. If you have an office job, then you have probably also found that as you sit at your desk, you experience back pain. This is usually caused by poor posture.
Between your office job and times, you are sitting in front of the television or any transportation. You will end up spending about a third of your life sitting. With how much time we spend sitting, it is surprising that so many do not know how to maintain good posture.
Why Good Posture Is Important
No one has perfect posture a hundred percent of the time, so not always having good posture is not a reason to stress, but when it comes to how you sit at your desk, you should be a bit more concerned.
When your body stays in a specific position for an extended period with repeated gestures, your body will naturally adapt to those gestures and postures. For example, if you sit at a desk for long periods, your body will adjust, so some muscles are tightened, and others will become relaxed and weak.
As time passes, the tension caused by your posture will shift the balance in specific joints and, in the end, cause you pain. If not addressed, this pain can turn into other serious issues such as osteoarthritis, sciatica pain, joint arthritis, or herniated discs. For this reason, it is vital to maintain good posture while you sit at your desk.
What is Considered Good Posture?
Good posture is when there is respect for the natural position of your joints and the balance of muscles in your body. Whether you are standing, walking, cooking, watching television, or sitting at a desk, there are specific postures that show respect for these balances, and there are others that will compromise them.
While sitting, the ideal position will permit the primary joints of the body to remain in a neutral position that will not cause tension in your muscles or demand constant stretching by arching your back constantly. Your hip flexion is constantly activated when you bend and stretch your legs too much.
Proper posture while sitting includes keeping your back straight, avoiding arching your lower back, and rounding your shoulders forward. It helps if you have your screen at eye level. Your shoulders should be relaxed, and your knees at the height of your hips, so your thighs form a ninety-degree angle with your torso. Finally, your legs should never be crossed, and your feet should rest on the ground.
Tips To Maintain Good Posture
In order to maintain good posture while sitting at your desk, you must remain consistent. Although, sometimes, simply focusing on your gestures and position is not enough. There are different techniques and equipment that can help you.
One way to maintain good posture is by finding time to exercise and strengthen your muscles so sitting properly becomes easier. For example, doing oblique workouts can be highly beneficial since they focus on the muscles on either side of your core and aid in rotating your body and protecting your spine.
A piece of equipment that is a considerable aid in maintaining good posture is the chair you sit in. Your chair should be adjustable in many ways, precisely their height, so you do not need to adapt your size to the chair. That is a sure way to ensure you have bad posture.
Maintaining good posture at your office job is crucial to preserving a healthy body. Small changes can make all the difference.
