Turns out grandma was right.
Most of us are too busy trying to lose weight and achieve optimal gut health to care too much about our posture.
But — according to Kristianne Egbert, certified professional ergonomist with Briotix — it’s more important to your health than you might think.
“Sitting with poor posture can affect your overall well-being in several ways,” Egbert told The Post.
“First, the posture itself can place unnecessary strain on the body, which may lead to discomfort over time,” she added. “When you sit in a poor position, your joints are misaligned and your muscles often tense up, resulting in fatigue and reduced blood flow.”
And it’s not just sitting, either — standing wrong can make you badly in need of a massage as well.
“Holding any one posture for an extended period — whether sitting or standing — can take a toll on your body,” she said. “Static positions cause muscles to tense, slow blood flow and lead to fatigue.”
Like many other experts, Egbert recommends moving your body regularly — regardless of whether or not you have a trendy standing desk or living that cubicle life.
“In addition to maintaining a neutral posture, it’s important to incorporate regular movement throughout your day,” she said.
“For computer work, we recommend standing for about 20 minutes every hour. This can be broken into two 10-minute intervals, but static standing should be limited to no more than 20 minutes at a time,” she noted.
If you’ve ever accidentally caught your reflection and felt horrified at how hunched-over you look — don’t fret, because we’re all making the same boo-boos.
“There are a few different common mistakes people tend to make when sitting,” Egbert said.
“The first is a forward slouch. This can happen for a few reasons. It could be because the monitor is too far away, causing the person to lean forward to view their screen.
“The second cause of slouching would be a chair that doesn’t fit correctly. If it is too high, the person may sit forward and hunch to help keep the feet planted. If the seat pan is too deep, they may sit on the edge of the chair to help improve comfort.”
She recommends investing in a fully-adjustable chair to fine-tune your seating according to your needs and comfort — just make sure your chair also has proper padding to improve your blood flow.
While no one is expecting you to have the same posture as a dowager countess, Egbert recommends following these guidelines to maintain a healthy seated position:
- Back support: Sit upright with your back fully supported by the chair’s backrest.
- Seat pan: Your thighs should rest comfortably on the seat, with 2 to 3 inches of space between the front edge of the seat and the back of your knees. A seat with adjustable depth is ideal.
- Arm position: Upper arms should hang naturally at your sides. Forearms should be parallel to the floor and level with your keyboard when typing.
- Armrests: Armrests should be just below your forearms and provide support when resting, but they should not interfere with typing or cause your to anchor your arms.
- Legs and feet: Feet should be flat on the floor or on a footrest. Knees and ankles should be at approximately 90 degrees. Hips should be at a 90- to 100-degree angle, allowing for a slightly open hip position.
This posture PSA comes as more post-pandemic workers continue to feel the literal weight of hybrid setups and long-haul sitting.
Chiropractors report seeing more people in their 20s and 30s showing up with an “old-lady issue” known as the “dowager’s hump” — which is not the type of royalty we’re looking for.
English (US) ·