When you’re sitting at a desk for hours on end, slouching is practically inevitable. Hunching over may seem relatively harmless, but poor posture can put excess strain on your muscles and ligaments. NQ Physio Townsville tells us that such strain can lead to several health issues, such as back and neck pain, arthritis, poor blood circulation and reduced motor skills. To prevent these issues, it’s important to make a conscious effort to avoid slouching. To learn how to improve your posture while working at a desk, continue reading.
Utilize a standing desk
Sitting for an entire workday can put a large amount of strain on your lower back and neck, which makes it hard for you to maintain good posture. A great way to eliminate some of that strain is utilizing a standing desk, which allows you to stand periodically throughout the day.
Even when you aren’t standing, a standing desk will continue to provide posture-improving benefits by allowing you to adjust the height of your computer. Adjusting your computer so that the monitor is at eye level will ensure that you don’t have to tilt your head down and that you can keep a straight spine.
Use a standing desk balance board
A great way to ensure you don’t slouch when you’re working at your standing desk is to use a standing desk balance board. When you stand on the board, your spine will have to maintain its alignment in order to maintain your balance. In addition, any micromovements you make while balancing will also strengthen your back muscles, which will make it easier for you to maintain better posture even when you aren’t on the board.
Purchase a supportive chair
Standing is typically healthier for the back, but standing for an entire workday isn’t very realistic. As such, it’s important to find a way to improve your posture even while you’re sitting. One of the best ways to do so is by investing in a supportive chair. The chair you choose should support the natural curve of your lower back and have the option to adjust its height and armrests to suit your body.
However, a good chair won’t do all the work of improving your posture for you. You’ll still need to make a conscious effort to train your body to sit properly. While sitting, make sure to keep your feet flat on the floor, your upper back straight, your lower back slightly curved, and your hips as close to the back of your chair as possible. You should also keep your shoulders relaxed and low and your arms parallel to the floor.
