“Don’t slouch!” Your mom may be on to something about sitting up straight.
“Good posture does more than protect your back. Good posture actually goes a long way in protecting your health.” – Ortho Sports and Spine
Slouching always appears that someone is super relaxed chill but it actually can reek havoc on your body. Initially it may feel like your are getting more comfortable and melting into the couch. It’s human nature to slouch and slide down into the couch, but its really putting stress on the body that it’s not used to or even made for.
Initially you may develop “general aches and pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, back, thighs, and lower legs (postural fatigue) or persistent pain or discomfort in muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue (repetitive strain injury).”- AAOS
Continuing to ignore those general aches and pains can evolve into a much bigger problem like numbness and tingling down the arms or legs to neck and back disc compression from improper posture and stability muscle weakness.
“Symptoms of a problem can include numbness in the fingers, sore wrists, lower back pain, or eye strain (redness, dryness, soreness, temporary blurring of vision, and headaches).
“The body is not designed to sit still, even in correct position, for long periods of time. Some individuals find that using a computer extensively can cause discomfort, so regular pauses are not a waste of time. Change your seated position occasionally, stand up or stretch whenever you start to feel tired.”(AAOS)
One common issue is improper posture when working on a computer. Many adults sit for hours on end at a desk working on a computer.
Computer Ergonomics
- Top of the monitor at or just below eye level
- Head and neck balanced and in-line with torso
- Shoulders relaxed
- Elbows close to body and supported
- Lower back supported
- Wrists and hands in-line with forearms
- Adequate room for keyboard and mouse
So get out of that chair and walk around, stand up and stretch for a few minutes every few hours. Keep that blood flowing.
Small things you will notice as you improve your posture:
Sitting up straight makes you appear more confident.
Its a great Ab workout.
It gets easier to hold your body upright.
Sources:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/positions.html