Body Acceptance in the Office - a “guest blogger”
Posted in IE on Mar 2nd, 2009
This is from a writer with the company I am partnering with for some articles about comfort when you work. I feel this is an excellent piece and that it’s very relevant in a world of anti-fat sentiment. Enjoy!
Body Acceptance in the Office
Most Americans spend the majority of their day sitting at a desk or in front of a computer. That’s roughly 8 hours a day, 4 hours a week spent sitting. It goes without saying that it is important to make sure you are seated properly throughout the day to help avoid back pain. Nothing makes a job harder than attempting to do it while you are uncomfortable or in constant pain. This can lead to stress and stress can lead to a host of other problems.
It is for this reason that it is important that you consider ergonomics when you choose an office chair. Ergonomics is essentially the science of comfort. You want your work station to be ergonomic in order to help banish back pain, stress, and increase your overall physical well being. Things like chronic back pain, neck pain, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can all be avoided if you are working in an environment that is ergonomically sound. This entails sitting up straight, with your feet flat on the ground and your elbows resting comfortably at your side. Perhaps the most important factor in achieving ergonomic nirvana is your chair itself.
There are many office chairs on the market today that have been specially designed with ergonomic specifications in mind. Options like lumbar support and adjustable arms help make sitting properly easier. However, as everyone knows people come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This means that a chair that may be considered ergonomic for one person may not necessarily be right for another.
People with larger frames will require a chair that is taller and wider to help give them the proper support. Luckily, many chair manufacturers have taken this fact into account and have designed models that are specifically designed for the big and tall. These chairs help make ergonomics possible for people that can rarely find comfort within the confines of a basic office chair.
There is no reason for you to be forced to buy your own office chair at your place of work. Consider asking your employers if they will supply you with a chair that can better support your specific body type. If it is causing you pain, then the situation is serious and should be dealt with as such. Most employers would most likely gladly pay the extra money for a new chair to help avoid having to pay your chiropractor bills later.
