Sitting Posture - The Ergonomics of the Right Way to Sit

Sitting posture, seating position, or seat postureminute way. This movement can be measured to
can make all the difference in comfort. For asdetermine what seating position causes the most
long as I can remember, sitting straight up wasstress on the spinal column. As it turns out, sitting
considered the optimal position. Parents wouldat a 90 degree angle causes the most uniform
preach it, doctors would suggest it when they tellstress on the spine. Slouching forward causes less
you to sit up straight and not slouch. This juststress on the upper spine, but more stress on
never made sense, because very few peoplethe lower spine. The least amount of disk
really feel comfortable sitting straight up.movement and stress on the spine was observed
Recent studies show that the optimal sittingin a person who was leaning back at approx. 135
posture is not straight up (90 degrees) butdegrees or more.
actually leaning back at roughly a 120-135 degreeThe angle in the seating posture is important as
angle. It shouldn't come as a surprise, as this isto how my stress and natural force of gravity
arguably one of the most comfortable positionscan be affected by the ergonomics in the way
to sit. So, what are the mechanics for theyou sit. So, the next time someone corrects your
"correct" sitting posture?sitting posture and asks you to "sit up straight"
When strain is put on the spine, the spinal disksyou can correct them and say "no, lay back at
between each vertebrae will move or misalign in a135 degrees.