| After I graduated from college, and while working | | | | "gel". When leaning forward, like I was having to |
| to put my husband through school, I took a job | | | | be all hunched over a computer, the vertebrae |
| at a law office as a file clerk. Because of limited | | | | pushes all the gel to the rear of the back. This |
| space and the nature of my job, I didn't get a | | | | compresses the nerves that exit the central |
| typical office set up. My "desk" was comprised of | | | | nervous system. In response, the nerves tighten |
| an old, leather executive chair that had been | | | | up in your back muscles, because they think they |
| sitting in storage waiting to be thrown away. This | | | | are supposed to contract the lower muscles in |
| chair was crammed in between two of the three | | | | the back. Eventually, the muscles slowly pull the |
| rows of filing cabinets, and I cradled my laptop on | | | | vertebrae further out of line while pushing the gel |
| my lap while balancing stacks of paper around me | | | | further back against the nerves. |
| on the floor. | | | | If the body is continually subjected to this |
| Although the nature of the job isn't physically | | | | position, it can cause severe, if not permanent |
| demanding, the environment left me physically | | | | pain. The same nerve that is cause pain in your |
| tired at the end of each day. My back hurt from | | | | back also runs down the leg to the feet and toes. |
| poor support and being hunched over. My hands | | | | In a worst case scenario the "ice pack gel" can |
| and wrists hurt from using the keyboard on my | | | | completely rupture and you can be in for a long |
| computer improperly. I could even feel the strain | | | | recovery. |
| in my neck and my feet. | | | | The good news is that ergonomics can prevent |
| Thankfully, I've since moved out of that | | | | this pain. Proper lumbar support is essential for |
| make-shift desk into an office that is now | | | | prevention of muscle and nervous system issues |
| ergonomically friendly and my back thanks me | | | | when seated at your office or workstation. |
| everyday. The human spine is comprised of | | | | Without this support serious injuries can occur and |
| vertebrae like a stack of bones, with the bones in | | | | impede workplace production. Proper lumbar |
| the lower back curve in. In between these | | | | support can be found in most good office chairs |
| vertebrae is a separate disk, and like an ice pack, | | | | that are labeled "Ergonomic". Make sure when |
| it's strong exterior protects a gel like substance | | | | shopping for you chair that it has the back |
| inside. | | | | support you need to make it through the work |
| In the normal position, the space between the | | | | day. |
| vertebrae and the disks are evenly filled with this | | | | |