| The correct computer posture is critical if you | | | | 3. Do not slouch. This is implied by sitting up |
| want to live a long, healthy and pain-free life. Bad | | | | straight. Remember that slouching leads to bad |
| computer posture can result in chronic pain in your | | | | posture. |
| neck, back, arms, legs and even your feet. | | | | 4. Stretch often. Stretching will help relieve the |
| Most of us spend endless hours at our | | | | stress in your muscles and joints and will increase |
| computers, day in and day out, either at work or | | | | your flexibility and range of motion. |
| at home on the Internet. To make matters | | | | 5. Use an ergonomically designed, comfortable |
| worse, many of us use laptops. How often have | | | | chair that promotes good posture. The chair |
| you seen someone in Starbucks or at the airport | | | | needs to have proper back lumbar support and |
| hunched over their laptop? Obviously, this is far | | | | you need to make use of it. |
| from the correct computer posture. | | | | 6. Take a break every thirty minutes. Your spine |
| Bad computer posture invariably leads to forward | | | | is made for motion not sitting in a chair for |
| head posture, one of the most common abnormal | | | | prolonged periods of time. Get up and take a |
| postures in our society. Ninety percent of the | | | | walk. Stretch and recharge your stiff muscles. |
| population has some degree of forward head | | | | 7. Use a posture cushion at home that is designed |
| posture. If not corrected, forward head posture | | | | to reverse bad and forward head posture. |
| can cause a host of issues including mid-back and | | | | Posture cushions are a passive and comfortable |
| low-back complications as well as head, neck and | | | | way to help stretch over-used muscles and |
| TMJ problems. It has been estimated to shave as | | | | strengthen the neglected muscles. |
| many as ten years off your life. | | | | If you are feeling any kind of discomfort while |
| Computer posture correction entails the proper | | | | working at your computer, you should definitely |
| equipment placement, the correct viewing angle | | | | evaluate your computer posture. Sitting at your |
| and the proper typing height of your computer. | | | | computer and doing the same thing over and |
| This, combined with the correct keyboard | | | | over again creates muscle imbalance. Muscles that |
| posture, can significantly reduce muscular-skeletal | | | | are used repetitively over-strengthen, while the |
| strain in the muscles and joints of your shoulders, | | | | unused muscles weaken. Your joints begin to |
| neck, back and arm. | | | | move unevenly, causing stress, and ultimately |
| Here are a few tips to help improve your | | | | joint breakdown. This is one of the reasons why |
| computer posture: | | | | you should take a break every thirty minutes or |
| 1. Ensure that you desk and computer screen are | | | | so. |
| at the correct height. You should be looking | | | | By becoming more aware of the causes of your |
| straight ahead at your screen and not down. | | | | bad posture and following these simple tips, you |
| 2. Keep your back straight. Sit in an upright, | | | | will be well on your way to developing the correct |
| straight position at all times. Your lower back | | | | computer posture and living a long, healthy and |
| should be supported by your chair. | | | | pain-free life. |