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WORK CHAIR PAIN

Nowadays, many of us are glued to our desks and computers while we’re at work, sitting for hours at a time and not budging. Alarmingly, recent research shows that all of that sitting can cause significant stress in the back, neck, arms and legs that could lead to debilitating back pain.

As a reporter for GQ magazine, Guy Lawson is often held prisoner to his chair.
“When I ’m not reporting, I’m sitting still and writing. I am always sedentary in my workplace,” says Guy.
All of his ergonomically unsound sitting had his body crying out for some re-tuning.
“I could feel my work place getting kind of hazardous. I thought they were sports related injuries, or a result of not working out enough. But as the problems persisted it became clear to me that it was more serious,” said Guy.
In fact, recent data released by the journal of biomechanics shows that lower back problems are the leading cause of disability in the workplace. Bad ergonomics are a major culprit. Often companies select office furniture designed for what ergonomists refer to as, the “average person.”
Dr Jeffrey Spivak is an orthopedic surgeon for the Hospital for Joint Diseases, and an expert on ergonomics.
“There’s less up and down in a chair, less moving around since work is concentrated on the screen and keyboard. Given that, it’s crucial for chairs to be ergonomically designed,” says Dr Spivak.
When we’re standing upright the spine has an s-shape, curved in at the lower end of the back, known as the lumbar area. When we’re sitting the pelvis is pushed backwards and the lower back flattens. Sitting compresses the vertebral discs, as a result of which they lose some of their fluid content. This has the same effect as putting twice one’s body weight on the spine.
Dr. Manny Halpern of the Hospital of Joint Diseases, studies biomechanics and ergonomics. “If we keep a certain posture for long periods of time the vertebral discs are deprived of their nutrients, and that contributes to their degeneration.”
Dr. Halpern worked with Guy to determine what would work best for him at his work station. “If you can’t change your work environment, then change the way you fit into the environment,” says Dr Halpern, outlining a key principle of ergonomic living.
O.S.H.A., the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration, has devoted a whole section of its website reviewing the importance of using an ergonomically designed chair.

When evaluating your chair it is important to make certain that the backrest provides support for your lower back. The seat width, depth and height of a chair should accommodate the specific user, so feet aren’t left dangling, causing undue pressure on the back. If you are going to use armrests, both forearms should be supported while you perform computer tasks.
While Guy is happy with his work station makeover, he knows he must carefully monitor his posture and positioning while sitting to avoid the onset of back pain.
“If you don’t take continuous care of the way you sit, back pains can become chronic, and maybe even disabling,” says Guy.
While you’re sitting at your desk, take an inventory. Make sure your head and neck are upright, or in-line with your torso. According to O.S.H.A., it is harmful to have one’s head, neck or trunk twisted while sitting. Shoulders and upper arms should also be in line with the torso.
For more information on how to effectively set up your work station and chair, click here:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/components_chair.html

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