We spend most of our time sitting, whether it’s at home, commuting or at work. When sitting for long periods of time, there are a few things to keep in mind to maintain good posture.
The home doctor experts at House Call Doctor have some tips and advice.
What is good posture?
Good posture isn’t just one way of sitting, there are different ways of sitting that place different physical stresses on our bodies. Good posture means the key parts of a person’s body are correctly aligned and supported by the right amount of muscle tension. Correct posture has many benefits including:
- Reduces strain on the body during movement and exercise
- Reduces wear and tear on joints, muscles and ligaments
- Maintains balance while moving and exercising
- Reduces the risk of muscle strain and overuse conditions
- Improves spinal health.
What is the best sitting position?
The best sitting position is different for everyone, and depends on a person’s height, the chair they’re using and the activity they’re doing while sitting. You can improve your posture by:
- Keeping your feet flat on the floor or resting them on a footrest
- Avoiding crossing your knees or ankles
- Positioning your knees at the same height as your hips
- Relaxing your shoulders
- Maintaining a gap between the back of the knees and the chair
- Keeping forearms and knees parallel to the floor where possible
- Sitting up straight and looking forward without straining your neck
- Keeping your back up against the chair
- Avoiding sitting for long periods of time.
Things to consider
It’s important to consider how much time you spend sitting each day and try to find ways to reduce that total amount of time. If you’re working in an office, take breaks and go for a walk. Think about ways to vary your sitting position and find a chair that supports your back.
