One of the most common questions I get asked is Where can I get help for sitting and posture issues in Bristol?
At my Osteopathic clinic in Henleaze, I see hundreds of patients suffering from back and neck pain each year.
For many, it is due to poor sitting and in many cases avoidable.
This is why sitting and poor posture is such a massive issue in Bristol and we should consider what we need to do about this problem.
What is the postural problem?
- The human body is not well designed for sitting for long periods
- I believe the chair industry is failing us by providing poor seating that is really detrimental to our backs
- Good chairs are few and far between and often very expensive
Why are standard chairs so bad for us?
- Most chairs have a horizontal seat part that we sit on.
- When we sit, the position of our pelvis changes (rolls backwards) and our natural spinal curves are reduced or even disappear.
- Our postural muscles fatigue and we slowly slouch backwards.
- This loads our spine and discs in a detrimental way and is a major cause of back pain, disc injury, and disablement.
What do we need to do about it?
- We need to think about sitting in a different way to make it healthier for us all.
- Better, active sitting in chairs that promote good posture is much healthier for the back. I was so frustrated by poor seating that I designed a simple, posture-promoting chair - The Z Chair. Find out about this ergonomic chair here.
- Sitting less, standing more, moving more is so important.
- Micro-breaking is an effective way to prevent back issues. Get up and move every 20-30 minutes. Read more about the benefits of micro-breaks here.
- Standing desks are also a significant change from sitting. Alternating between sitting and standing is a good option.
I have written a dedicated blog about poor sitting and what to do about it. You can read more here.
I have also written a piece on tips for better posture and sitting here.
Read this article I wrote about how to combat poor posture.
To book an appointment at Alex Prince Osteopathy just click here.
If you’d like to speak to one of us you can also call 0117 973 6477.