Pain

Sitting all day- How should my chair support me?

Written by Stacey Mullis, OTR/L, ATP, NPI-CPS | Mar 13, 2023 3:22:45 PM

Sitting for long periods of time can be tough on the body, especially on the lower back. Many people turn to lumbar support cushions or chairs to help alleviate lumbar pain and some of the stress on their lower backs while sitting. While lumbar support may feel good at first, have you ever noticed that in a very short amount of time, you’re once again sitting in a slouched position? However, there may be an even better solution: pelvis support.

Why do I slouch when I’m sitting in a chair with lumbar support?

We slouch because our pelvis is not supported!

The angle of the pelvis determines the position of the spine. When you look at the base of the spine, L5 and the sacrum are attached to the pelvis with multiple ligaments. As a result, when the pelvis rotates forward or backward, the spine changes position accordingly.

 

When we sit, our pelvis tends to tilt backward, causing our lower back to round and leads to poor posture.

This can lead to discomfort and even lower back pain over time. A pelvis support helps to support the pelvis in a neutral position, which then directs the spine to an optimal “S” curve. This support improves posture and reduces strain on the lower back.

Improving posture affects more than improving pain!

Not only does it improve posture, but supporting the pelvis can reduce back pain, improve blood flow and breathing, reduce fatigue, and improve digestion. When we sit without proper support, we have to work hard to sit upright which is tiring and impacts focus. We end up in a forward slouched posture which compresses our internal structures, including the diaphragm which affects our ability to take full breaths and even get a full breath out. Our digestive organs get compressed which affects our ability to fully digest our food, resulting in abdominal discomfort.

In addition to the benefits already listed, a pelvis support can also help to improve circulation. When we sit for long periods of time in poor posture, our circulation can become sluggish, leading to feelings of fatigue and even discomfort. A pelvis support can help to improve circulation by promoting lower extremity alignment allowing the legs to hang naturally and encouraging movement while sitting.

 

If you are looking to improve posture and comfort while sitting, look no further than Anthros.

Anthros is the only chair in the world that is guaranteed to improve posture or your money back. The science-backed, patented design is registered with the FDA as a posture-improving chair and is proven to have the lowest pressure (most comfortable) cushion on the planet (verified by university testing).

Take the next step to reducing pain, increasing comfort, and maximizing performance!

 

References:

  1. "The Benefits of Supporting the Pelvis in Sitting." PMC, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 6 Dec. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6733265/.
  2. "The Effects of Sitting Posture on Musculoskeletal Health: A Systematic Review." PMC, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 Aug. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970645/.