A friend of mine calls it ‘the rat hunch’. 
That position we get into when working at a computer, perched on the edge of our seat, hunched over the keyboard, chin poking forward to look at the screen … and then hold it for several hours.
Read my blog post to find out how to set up your workstation. And, you owe it to your body to give it some regular exercise after all that sitting. So walk, swim, play badminton, football, anything, just avoid more sitting in your free time. Recent research indicates that it is not so much ‘posture’ as ‘fixed posture’ that is the problem, so take regular breaks and do something different to ease your body’s stiffness.
If you spend a lot of time in the car, make seat design a priority when you next choose a car. Thatcham provide useful information on the merits of different makes and models. Think about your driving position:
- Sit with your bottom in contact with the back rest and most of your thighs supported by the seat.
- Have the back rest slightly tilted back so that the weight of your head and shoulders falls on the seat, not on your lower back.
- Use the lumbar support and seat height/tilt adjustments, if fitted, so that your back is supported and the back of your knees aren’t acting as a pivot every time you put your foot down on a pedal.
- Have the seat close enough that you can rest your wrists on the top of the steering wheel without leaning forward.
- Regardless of how comfortable your seat is, however, get out and walk around every couple of hours to give your back a rest.
Osteopaths can help with the effects of poor posture and advise on how to improve it, but only you can make the every day changes that will improve your long-term health.