Can an Ergonomic Chair Help Reduce Low Back Pain?

Ergonomic chairs are designed to support thebalanced and comfortable, plus free from pain;
sitting pose in a comfortable position forbecause there is no muscular tension used to
performing activity or work-based tasks.support the spine in this position.
They are important to use, because they willYou can still create movement while sitting in this
support the posture of your spine correctly, whileposition.
you concentrate on performing the task requiredThere are three areas to consider:
in the sitting position.1) Your legs - from placing them firmly on the
Low back pain is one of the most commonground, to tucking them behind the seat base
ailments in our skeletal body, which is mainly(which changes your weight distribution).
caused by incorrect lifting of an object, poor2) Your pelvic bones - by lifting one pelvic bone
sitting and standing posture, or a rapid increase inand then the other (which alters the spinal weight
body weight. Any of these causes will put straindistribution).
on the surrounding muscles and tissues of the3) Your upper body - by breathing in and arching
spine, whose main purpose is predominantlyyour spine, to breathing out and returning to the
protective.relaxed position (by stretching your spinal muscles
An ergonomic chair will help to support your spineand then relaxing them).
when sitting, so that you can concentrate on theIn essence, you have not moved your sitting
productive task at hand, but also include someposition, but have created movement in your
small movements in your spinal joints.skeletal joints, simply by modifying the position of
This may seem like a contradiction to move whilesitting on the chair.
sitting, but as a qualified Occupational Therapist,In this way your skeletal joints are stimulated by
my advice is simple: you need to maintain smallmovement through the surrounding muscles.
simple movements in your spine, for preventingOxygen flows freely to the tissues, the joints are
your skeletal joints from "seizing up".lubricated and your body continues to feel relaxed
The human skeleton is a well designed machine,and comfortable, for continuing your productive
which operates on the principles of a mechanicalactivity.
object such as a bicycle. If any parts of theErgonomic chairs are therefore necessary for
bicycle are not used, then components will stiffencontinuing provide safe activity in comfort.
and movement then becomes difficult.Purchasing an ergonomic chair is important, but
Similarly skeletal joints will lose mobility withoutonly part of the equation, as a chair alone will not
adequate movement, because muscles startrelieve your back pain. By questioning why you
losing their activation response linked throughhave back pain will help you understand how it
nerves and the blood supply that connect tocan be resolved.
associating joints within the spinal column.My background as an Occupational Therapist will
An ergonomic chair will help support your back inhelp correct functional movements through the
the correct position, while the surrounding backmission statements of:
muscles relax; you will feel safe and supported in• Protect your Joints
a comfortable position.• Preserve your Energy &
However, the key to remaining comfortable when• Promote your Safety, when using my
sitting in an ergonomic chair is not to remain still inergonomic products.
one place.In addition, to purchasing an ergonomic chair, I am
If you position your body weight over your pelvicoffering a free 'Therapeutic Active Living Plan' that
bones, when sitting in an ergonomic chair and letwill empower safe functional movement through a
your vertebrae remain vertically aligned above thetherapeutic process for active living in daily life.
pelvic region. Then your back will remain erect,