Our bodies are designed to operate in two postures really well. The first is standing upright and moving. The second is lying down and resting. We really didn’t need to think about what sitting posture does to our bodies until well into the Industrial Revolution. With the proliferation of desktop PCs, huge numbers of us now have jobs that require us to exist in a seated position for hours on end.
It seems obvious to us that a good pair of shoes really helps us if we need to be on our feet a lot. And, it’s equally obvious that a better quality bed equates to a better nights’ rest. What isn’t so obvious is that a well constructed office chair can make a huge difference not only to our comfort but to our continuing well-being and overall productivity as well.
Ergonomic Isn't Just a Fancy Buzz-Word
An effective definition of the term ergonomic is simply: an item that fits/adapts to the user.
Until a few short years ago, office furniture was decidedly not ergonomic. Many companies placed far more emphasis on either the aesthetics or cost than on the comfort of the people using the furniture. More recently, individuals and companies have begun to realize that productivity increases when people use tools that provide better support and comfort. Ergonomic furniture and office products are beginning to be understood and accepted.
Qualities of a “Good” Office Chair
Starting from the ground up, a better office chair will have a 5-star (5 leg) base for improved balance. The casters will be large for better weight distribution. The chair will have a height adjustable piston or cylinder. The seat pan will be contoured like a tractor seat for better and more even support; and it’ll have a rounded or waterfall edge to avoid painful contact against the back of the user’s thighs. The seat pan will be constructed from solid wood or a composite material rather than cardboard or plastic for improved durability. The cushion will be made from HR (high resiliency) foam or memory foam for greater support and comfort. The back of the chair will also be made from quality materials and foam as well as provide adjustable lumbar support. Features which set the very best apart from the rest include: seat pan depth adjustment; articulating armrests; full range lockable tilt adjustment; height adjustable back rest; and, contoured back support which provides lateral as well as lumbar support.
Optimizing Your Workspace
A high quality chair is only one part of the equation when it comes to setting up an ergonomic workspace. Other factors of great importance include correctly arranging other tools such as the computer monitor, keyboard and mouse as well as the telephone document printer and anything else used regularly.
The keyboard and monitor must be placed directly in front of the user, not at an angle. If the monitor cannot be directly in front of the user because the user must also interact with other people across from them, a monitor arm or stand may help. Unless the numeric keypad portion of the keyboard is used frequently, the alphabetic (or “typewriter”) portion of the keyboard should be centered in front of the user. Pay attention to the placement of the mouse such that the user does not have to reach or extend an arm at awkward angles. Often this may be resolved by placing the mouse on the left side of the keyboard. Yes, that takes some practice. But, the decrease in pain is worth the effort.
Any tools used frequently should be placed within easy reach. If a phone is used a lot, especially at the same time as using the keyboard, a wireless headset is in order.
Tools used less often can be placed farther away. Unless the user is constantly printing documents, placing the printer some distance away such that it is necessary to stand up and walk a short distance will provide beneficial “micro” breaks.
All In the Name of Productivity
Whether working in a traditional office or from home, these days it’s all about productivity. By equipping yourself with quality ergonomic office furniture and arranging your work area properly, productivity will instantly improve because you won’t be thinking about how much pain you are in all day long.
Trust the Professionals
Here at the Relax The Back store in central Phoenix, we’re certified in office ergonomics. We have years of experience helping people to understand the importance of top quality ergonomic office chairs, desks, monitor stands, keyboard trays and more. Whether you are trying to improve your office environment or in finding a chair which will make you comfortable for all those hours of surfing the web at home, we can help.
Relax The Back in central Phoenix has been serving the community of greater Phoenix since 1994 from Uptown Plaza conveniently located north of downtown in between Interstate 17 and SR 51. We’re open 7 days a week for your convenience.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Does Your Back Hurt?
Here are two sobering statistics about back pain:
1) 8 out of 10 people will suffer at least one episode of severe back pain in their lifetimes;
2) Non-specific back pain is second only to colds & flu as the reason why people miss work.
People with back pain have a choice to either suffer or seek relief. In seeking relief there are myriad books on the topic proffering various paths to relief. Late night television is cluttered with infomercials hawking products that are supposedly “proven.” And, there are many professional medical pathways from yoga to chiropractic to specialized surgical procedures. There are so many avenues out there that it can be overwhelming.
In recent years, the medical community seems to have come together in support of their patients in one major way: non-invasive, non-surgical pathways toward relieving back pain should be the first choice treatment path. Surgery should only be attempted if everything else has failed.
Since its inception in 1984, Relax The Back has been a leading resource for the relief and prevention of back and neck pain. The company has been serving the Phoenix metropolitan area since 1994.
Following are a few non-surgical methods many have used to relieve their back pain.
Spinal Decompression
The postures we put ourselves into in our adult lives contribute to the gravitational pull on our spines. Pressure on the intervertebral discs results in loss of body height and nerve pain. Many people experience this as sciatica. Others experience numbing in their hands and fingers.
Remember how freeing it felt as a young child swinging upside down from a monkey bar?
Spinal decompression allows the vertebrae to separate taking pressure off the nerves. Spinal decompression doesn’t have to be an expensive medical procedure offered only in a doctor’s office. There are many tools available for home use.
One of the most powerful tools available is the inversion table. Better versions of this product are extremely safe, do not necessitate the need for a helper and allow the user to set angles of inversion as complete inversion may be too extreme for some.
Stretching
It may sound overly simple. But, our bodies—especially as we age—need help when going from a period of rest to a period of activity. Spending a few minutes each day stretching can be a great way to help soften stiff muscles. Exercise books are a resource for finding effective stretching techniques. Products such as stability balls, foam rolls and the Core Stretch can help people stretch safely.
Zero Gravity
When NASA first sent men into space, one of their first observations was the position bodies assumed naturally in micro-gravity. Akin to a relaxed fetal position, research has proven that these angles produce minimal stress on the body.
Holding the knees and pelvis at specific angles allows the major muscles in the core and legs to relax. When the muscles relax, they don’t pull against bones. We call this neutral posture. When combined with reclining the body, gravity is more evenly distributed across the body’s surface resulting in the release of pressure on the spine. Products such as recliners, adjustable beds, and some massage chairs have been developed to support both neutral posture and zero gravity.
Far-Infrared Heat
Unlike typical heating pads that heat the skin before they can get through to the muscle, far-infrared works from the inside. Healing pads, massage beds and chairs incorporating far-infrared technology have become increasingly popular in our society having started in Eastern cultures generations ago. Simply put, the technology relies on an invisible portion of the light spectrum to deliver powerful relief from deep within. And, because these products don’t make your skin feel sunburned, they can be used for extended periods of time safely.
Manage Stress
Whether it’s taking time to “smell the roses,” or to watch a comedy on TV, find something that takes your mind off your daily stressors. Plenty of anecdotal evidence exists suggesting that stress is a major cause of myriad health problems. Exercising, eating well, maintaining good postures and using products which are ergonomically designed all play a role in helping to manage stress.
A Trusted Resource
Relax The Back in Uptown Plaza has specialized in ergonomic products since 1994. Our first concerns are to understand the sources and causes of the pains our customers are in. From there, we provide education so our customers can make informed decisions to help support a better quality of life. If you have back pain, please come by and see what we can do to help.
1) 8 out of 10 people will suffer at least one episode of severe back pain in their lifetimes;
2) Non-specific back pain is second only to colds & flu as the reason why people miss work.
People with back pain have a choice to either suffer or seek relief. In seeking relief there are myriad books on the topic proffering various paths to relief. Late night television is cluttered with infomercials hawking products that are supposedly “proven.” And, there are many professional medical pathways from yoga to chiropractic to specialized surgical procedures. There are so many avenues out there that it can be overwhelming.
In recent years, the medical community seems to have come together in support of their patients in one major way: non-invasive, non-surgical pathways toward relieving back pain should be the first choice treatment path. Surgery should only be attempted if everything else has failed.
Since its inception in 1984, Relax The Back has been a leading resource for the relief and prevention of back and neck pain. The company has been serving the Phoenix metropolitan area since 1994.
Following are a few non-surgical methods many have used to relieve their back pain.
Spinal Decompression
The postures we put ourselves into in our adult lives contribute to the gravitational pull on our spines. Pressure on the intervertebral discs results in loss of body height and nerve pain. Many people experience this as sciatica. Others experience numbing in their hands and fingers.
Remember how freeing it felt as a young child swinging upside down from a monkey bar?
Spinal decompression allows the vertebrae to separate taking pressure off the nerves. Spinal decompression doesn’t have to be an expensive medical procedure offered only in a doctor’s office. There are many tools available for home use.
One of the most powerful tools available is the inversion table. Better versions of this product are extremely safe, do not necessitate the need for a helper and allow the user to set angles of inversion as complete inversion may be too extreme for some.
Stretching
It may sound overly simple. But, our bodies—especially as we age—need help when going from a period of rest to a period of activity. Spending a few minutes each day stretching can be a great way to help soften stiff muscles. Exercise books are a resource for finding effective stretching techniques. Products such as stability balls, foam rolls and the Core Stretch can help people stretch safely.
Zero Gravity
When NASA first sent men into space, one of their first observations was the position bodies assumed naturally in micro-gravity. Akin to a relaxed fetal position, research has proven that these angles produce minimal stress on the body.
Holding the knees and pelvis at specific angles allows the major muscles in the core and legs to relax. When the muscles relax, they don’t pull against bones. We call this neutral posture. When combined with reclining the body, gravity is more evenly distributed across the body’s surface resulting in the release of pressure on the spine. Products such as recliners, adjustable beds, and some massage chairs have been developed to support both neutral posture and zero gravity.
Far-Infrared Heat
Unlike typical heating pads that heat the skin before they can get through to the muscle, far-infrared works from the inside. Healing pads, massage beds and chairs incorporating far-infrared technology have become increasingly popular in our society having started in Eastern cultures generations ago. Simply put, the technology relies on an invisible portion of the light spectrum to deliver powerful relief from deep within. And, because these products don’t make your skin feel sunburned, they can be used for extended periods of time safely.
Manage Stress
Whether it’s taking time to “smell the roses,” or to watch a comedy on TV, find something that takes your mind off your daily stressors. Plenty of anecdotal evidence exists suggesting that stress is a major cause of myriad health problems. Exercising, eating well, maintaining good postures and using products which are ergonomically designed all play a role in helping to manage stress.
A Trusted Resource
Relax The Back in Uptown Plaza has specialized in ergonomic products since 1994. Our first concerns are to understand the sources and causes of the pains our customers are in. From there, we provide education so our customers can make informed decisions to help support a better quality of life. If you have back pain, please come by and see what we can do to help.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Resolutions for Sciatica Pain
If you have pain radiating from your buttock down your leg, a likely cause of this is sciatica. The sciatic nerve runs from your spinal column (between L4 and L5) through your buttock and down your leg. When your vertibrae become compressed, the nerve is pinched and the result is pain.
There are non-surgical methods to achieve relief from this pain. Included among them: SacroEase is a customizable seat and lumbar support; inversion tables offer a safe way to decompress your spine - the best models are safe and you are in control of just how much, or how little, you invert; zero-gravity recliners help hold your spine in neutral alignment and take all pressure off your spine while providing spinal decompression; an ergonomic office chair with a sculpted back can also provide spinal decompression; and, an adjustable memory foam bed will also help hold your spine in a neutral alignment.
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