| Ergonomics | | | | but can be used for exercising) at work or at |
| We spend the majority of our lives seated. It has | | | | home. Since the Swiss ball has no backrest and is |
| been postulated that up to 40% of our lives are | | | | unstable, your core muscles are constantly active. |
| spent sitting whether we are working, eating, | | | | Not only will the ball promote good posture, but it |
| driving, watching tv, or on the toilet.3 Why not | | | | will also give your back and abdominals a great |
| take advantage of this common position and use | | | | workout while you're working! The trick is to build |
| it to influence our bodies and health positively. | | | | up your tolerance on the ball. Sit on the ball for as |
| Unfortunately, it is common in today's society to | | | | long as you can and when you tire, you can |
| relax the trunk musculature and slouch when | | | | return to your chair. |
| sitting. What people don't realize is that there is a | | | | As your endurance improves, you will be able to |
| strong association between neck posture and | | | | sit on the ball for longer periods of time.3 If you |
| back posture. As soon as the head starts | | | | are unable to bring a large, inflated ball to your |
| reaching forward even slightly, posture begins to | | | | work environment, consider purchasing a product |
| collapse leading to scapular protraction (rounded | | | | called a SitFit, which is an inflated disc that will fit |
| shoulders), faulty head and neck posture, | | | | over your seat and provide similar benefits. Let's |
| improper trunk stabilization, and improper | | | | promote optimal health and a great set of "abs" |
| respiration. If you experience back pain, neck pain, | | | | by practicing active sitting on a daily basis. |
| or even carpal tunnel syndrome, you should | | | | Note: Posture is important to parents as well - |
| seriously evaluate your workstation and sitting | | | | they should constantly observe their children and |
| posture.28 | | | | remind them to straighten up and sit tall when |
| I propose that we all practice active sitting. Not | | | | necessary. Most posture-related problems that |
| only should we concentrate on our posture when | | | | adults experience stem from their early |
| seated, but we should also focus on activating our | | | | childhood.5 It has been suggested that little girls |
| core musculature. Since most chairs today have a | | | | tend to stand with their tummies out because it is |
| backrest, we tend to get lazy when we sit and | | | | considered a "cute" posture.6 As mentioned earlier |
| let our bodies disintegrate into the chair (what I | | | | in this article, a forward tilt of the pelvis can lead |
| term passive sitting.) Whereas, if we sit up | | | | to hip, knee, and back problems. As well, since |
| straight and maintain a tight core, we can | | | | good posture is a sign of being well brought up, |
| accomplish active sitting. As a matter of fact, I | | | | many kids rebel by slouching and taking a casual |
| have most people sit on Swiss ball (the large, | | | | approach to posture.21 So, nip it in the bud - your |
| resilient ball in Fig. 24 that looks like a beach ball | | | | kids will thank you later. |