Sitting at a desk for extended periods of time isn’t too great for you and hunching over your desk can cause back pain, neck strain, poor posture, and much more. Doctors recommend taking a break from sitting every 30 to 60 minutes, however this can be challenging for those busy workdays.
We listed 5 great products below you may consider to help alleviate any back pain and improve your posture:
- Lumbar support pillow: if a pricey ergonomic work chair is out of your budget, a lumbar pillow is the perfect solution to add to any traditional chair. These cushy pillows can be attached to any chair and are designed to relieve upper- mid- and lower-back pain. They also can improve posture overtime and provide great support by maintaining the natural curvature of your spine.
- Balance ball chair: these chairs are a great addition to a traditional office desk chair because they promote micro movements and constant stimulation of your body. The ball’s instability forces you to subtly engage your abdominal muscles to remain balanced. However, to avoid overworking your body, it’s recommended to swap out your traditional chairs with a balance ball chair for two hours at a time.
- Kneeling chair: these chair seats are positioned at a 120-degree angle so that it forces you to “actively” sit upright. Compared to traditional chairs, kneeling chairs engage your core and strengthen your abdominal muscles to better support your spine. The kneeling position also allows you to redistribute your weight more evenly to reduce stress on your lower back. It may feel a little awkward at first, but you’ll surely come to love these chairs and will feel the difference in support and comfort. And after consistent use, you may notice an improvement in your core strength and improved muscle tone.
- Standing desk: a height-adjustable standing desk is great if you like the option of switching between sitting and standing while working. Studies have found that the use of a sit-stand desk reduced upper back and neck pain by 54% after just 4 weeks. Standing promotes more body movement and better blood circulation. Standing also engages your back, core, and leg muscles to better improve your posture.
- Monitor stand: ideally the top of your computer screen should sit at or right below eye level to avoid strain from having to crane your neck forward to look at your monitor. However, most office desks are built at a lower height to enable a comfortable position for typing on a keyboard. The perfect solution is using a monitor stand to elevate your screen – and an added bonus is this will also free up some desk space underneath it.
