Additional Office Chair Advice

No matter how comfortable you are in your office chair, prolonged static posture is not good for your back and is a common contributor to back problems and muscle strain. Try to remember to stand, stretch and walk for at least a minute or two every half hour. Even a quick stretch or some minimal movement – such as walking to the water cooler or bathroom – will help.

A twenty minute walk will help even more, promoting healthy blood flow that brings important nutrients to all the spinal structures. In general, moving about and stretching on a regular basis throughout the day will help keep your joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons loose, which in turn will help you feel more comfortable, more relaxed and more productive.

Alternatives to a traditional office chair

While this article is about traditional office chairs, some people prefer more active, ergonomic chairs, such as a Swedish kneeling chair or a Swiss exercise ball. The Swopper, a dynamic stool device, offers similar advantages. While a traditional office chair is designed to provide complete support, a kneeling office chair (or Swedish kneeling chair) promotes good posture without a back support, and an exercise ball (or Swiss ball) helps develop your abdominal and back muscles while you sit.

Both of these alternatives require more active use of one’s muscles (e.g. for balance and to sit upright) than a traditional office chair. If you have an injured back or other health problems, it is advisable to first talk with your doctor prior to using one of these types of chairs.

There is not one type of office chair that is optimal for all patients, and patients should determine their individual preference for comfort while following the guidelines explained in this article to promote good posture and back support while sitting in an office chair.

For more information about criteria for office chairs, please see Choosing the right ergonomic office chair.

• Article written By:
• John J. Triano, DC, PhD

July 11, 2005

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