Posture For Work

Keeping Fit and Healthy – Health and Wellness at Work

Poor posture can cause back, neck and shoulder pain and negatively impact your effectiveness. Leaning too far forward to look at a computer monitor or slouching can cause neck and back aches, stiffness and cartilage compression.

Good posture allows the muscles around the lungs to stretch, allowing you to take fuller breaths, (take a deep breath now – feels nice doesn’t it?) boosting productivity and improving concentration and focus.

• Sit up in your chair and make sure your bottom is tucked right into the back of the seat. Sometimes it helps to place a small cushion about half way up your back, around the low rib area, in order to have enough support to help keep you upright when you get engrossed in the screen. Keep your legs uncrossed to allow good blood flow and reduce the possibility of varicose veins later in life.

• Pause a few times every hour and readjust your position. Take a few slow deep breaths, inhaling from the bottom of your lungs first and filling right up to the top. Hold for a few seconds and then breathe out slowly. Oxygen – it does wonders

• Sitting towards the front edge of your chair, plant your feet slightly wider than your hips so your shoulders can fit between your knees. For those with less flexibility or a sensitive lower back, lean forward, resting your forearms on your knees and elongate the spine into a half-forward bend. If you can go further, drop your shoulders between your knees so your head hangs toward the floor. Forward bending brings fresh oxygen to the brain and puts some needed space in the rear section of the spinal discs.

Jeni

22 January 2013