Did you know that sitting down is one of the worse things you can do for your back? That’s because most people sit incorrectly. Don’t move… Let’s take a quick inventory of how you’re sitting right now.
Is your lower back slightly arched or is it flattened against the back of your seat? Are you sitting up straight or slumped back in your chair? Is your head and neck aligned with the rest of your spine or are you tilting your head forward?
Chances are your answers show you already have poor posture in one or more of those areas. Poor posture while sitting quickly leads to back pain and other health problems. It can also worsen existing conditions like a herniated disc.
While we can make it a habit to watch our posture, it’s easy to fall back into a routine of sitting incorrectly. That’s why using some form of lumbar back support may be a good idea whenever you sit down, making better posture more or less automatic.
In a pinch a rolled towel or small pillow behind the lower back can help. A better long term solution is to use a lumbar back support cushion or other form of back orthotic to ensure proper posture and spinal alignment while sitting.
When purchasing a lumbar back support aid, look for one with as many of these features as possible:
- Provides support while sitting naturally
- Provides full lumbar back support
- Uses a contoured design to fit lower back
- Reduces pressure on the sacrum and tailbone
- Relieves direct pressure on the spinal column
- Does not restrict normal arm movement
- Fits most seat types, particularly office chairs and vehicle seats
- Easy to transport
Two back support aids, which include these features, are the Freedom Back support pillow and the BackJoy.
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