This American article outlines the biology in relation to bad posture. The article firstly gives an in depth background into how people develop bad posture. It then follows on with skeletal and muscular diagrams of the human anatomy highlighting problems and the mot common troubled areas. Common solutions and preventions round the article with insightful and original ideas.
Archive for 2010
Bad posture at work and how it can affect your life
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010What is ergonomics?
Thursday, November 25th, 2010This link outlines and defines what ergonomics is as a science form as well as how to apply it practically to your work station. This article is a must read for anyone who has no idea to what ergonomics is, or for people who want to learn a bit more about the ergonomic fundamentals. Key point raised in the article are the origin of ergonomics and where its name is derived from, a definition of ergonomics as well as the physical stressors and the environmental factors involved.
5 ways to correct posture
Sunday, November 21st, 2010We are always on the lookout for interesting articles on the web, and we recently came across this one. It’s a good summary of ways you can correct your posture.
This article highlights 5 ways to improve and correct your posture and the benefits it would have on your day to day functions. The article goes into detail on the benefits of good posture and how to implement the advice. The Top 5 is as follows:
- Yoga
- Bad Posture Exercises
- Ergonomic Posture Chairs
- Posture Braces
- Comfortable Clothing and good shoes
http://heheli.com/general-health/5-ways-to-correct-bad-posture/
It’s even got a free ebook download with some good exercises in it. Worth a read.
The 5 essential ergonomic products you will need this term at University
Friday, October 1st, 2010So the new university term has begun and whether you are a fresh faced first year or seasoned third year you will not be able to hide from the endless conveyor belt of assignments, projects, hand-ins and of course the life devouring dissertation, with all this work inevitable and unavoidable you will find yourself stuck in front of a computer for hours on end researching, referencing and refining your work. Spending more time in front of a computer than ever before and a more deskbound lifestyle may result in you to develop neck or back pain, a distraction from your work that you won’t enjoy.
However Posture People are here to help as we give you our Top Five Ergonomic Products that can offer increased support and movement to proactively reduce the risk of future problems.
1) Chair
- Axia Pro Chair
This sleek stylish chair offers an ideal combination of ergonomics and style fulfilling its purpose of providing exceptional comfort for hours and hours, especially when you are on the final stretch referencing your work whilst the dreaded deadline is drawing near you might be complaining about your time management but you would not be complaining of a bad back.
Price: £660.35
2) Mouse – Evoluent Mouse
The Evo is like no other normal mouse you would have used before; this uniquely designed ergo mouse supports your hand in a comfortable handshake shape position, to eliminate any pain in the arm caused due to tension from unnecessary forearm twisting. The mouse incorporates a clever five key design making it easier to switch back and forth from page to page on your screen, extremely useful when multitasking and having multiple windows open at once.
Price: £79.90
3) Laptop Stand
– Posture Pouch
The Posture Pouch is the perfect ergonomic accessory for the student on the go. The posture pouch allows any student to have your laptop screen at the correct height were ever you may be, whether you’re in the library, on the train or in the park with friends the posture pouch offers extra protection around your laptop, it also allows you to comfortably place your laptop on your lap correctly and without it over heating on you. The laptop and the stand can fold away as one, convenient if you’re a student on the go.
Price: £70.49
4) Document Holder – Docuglide
Do you spend your days painfully huddled over your desk while surrounded by towers of books? If so the Docuglide could be what you have been waiting for, productivity and posture can be improved dramatically as the Docuglide allows you to complete tasks such a reading, writing and typing to optimise your work flow as the writing slope is elevated to allow you to maintain good posture but at the same time read and use the keyboard.
Price: £111.63
5) Keyboard – Microsoft Natural 4000 keyboard
So you have just been assigned your dissertation which is for most people a minimum of 10,000 words, now that is a lot of typing! Flat keyboards promote unnatural wrist and forearm pressure causing strain in those areas, this could result in you having a distracting discomfort when you need to be completely focused. By incorporating the Natural 4000 your concentration will remain undiminished as this keyboard supports a natural position for superior comfort.
Price: £49.53
How To Choose The Right Mattress For You
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010The sign of a good mattress can usually be determined by its price tag. Cheap and cheerful may save you a few pounds in the short term. But after you`ve slept on an economy mattress for a year you could quickly find that your poor quality mattress is the cause of disturbed sleep, back pain and tiredness.
Most people sleep for around eight hours each night and so it makes sense that if a third of your life is spent in bed, you should really be prepared to invest in making it as comfortable as possible. The essential rule for choosing a mattress is to buy the best that you can afford within your budget. A good night`s sleep is the key to general wellbeing and a well structured, quality mattress will give you 10 to 25 years of consistent support.
There are several types of mattress, so when choosing the one that`s most suitable for your needs, you should weigh up the pros and cons of each and not just opt for the most expensive hoping that it`s the best.
A basic sprung mattress consists of springs throughout and a solid wire or rod edge maintains the box shape. These are the cheapest type of mattresses available but their life expectancy is usually under five years.
Pocket sprung mattresses are made from individual smaller springs in separated fabric pockets and as each pocket is isolated from the next, they work independently and distribute body weight more effectively. These are a good option for use by two people who have very different body shapes.
Memory foam mattresses are still fairly new but increasing in popularity as prices are starting to come down. They are still a top of the range choice, but the quality is superb and they are ideal for maintaining correct spine alignment throughout the night. The memory foam reacts to body heat and moulds to cushion the body, providing excellent support and natural movement.
The degree of firmness is important in a mattress as it has to provide effective back and neck support. It`s always a wise idea to try before you buy and don`t be afraid of lying down on several different types of mattress in the showroom in order to help you decide.
A quick test you can perform in the showroom is to lie down flat on your back, place your hand between the small of your back and the mattress and gently push away. If there`s a big gap, it`s too soft and if there is no gap at all then the mattress is too firm. If you can push your hand away slightly then the tension is probably just about right for your body weight.
Weight is an essential thing to consider when buying a mattress and someone who has the physique of a ballet dancer would not require the same support from a mattress as a 15 stone rugby player. It is for this reason that a couple who are very different in body shape or weight may wish to opt for a mattress that is different on either side. Single mattresses can be bought that are specifically made to mix and match with another from the same range and zip together to make a double mattress that is perfect for both people.
When deciding on which mattress is the best for you, remember that well known brand names may be more expensive than budget versions that look the same, mattresses by Silentnight are a good option and offer a wide range of choice. But it’s exactly the same as buying an office chair, go to the shop and try out a few.
Optimise your space with Business Link
Friday, September 10th, 2010Every once in a while Business Link produces something worth promoting, we came across this link to an article explaining how companies can optimise their office space.
The article is a really good summary of how companies can think about laying out their space differently to avoid a costly move. It explains how to measure occupancy and apply density targets. It’s probably too simplistic if a company actually wanted to look at how to optimise office space but it’s a good starting point.
If you are considering how to optimise your space, space planning your exisiting office is an excellent way to see if you are making best use of your current space or if you really do need to think about moving.
The Core Stability Myth – have you bought into it?
Thursday, August 19th, 2010The Times on Tuesday 10 August published an article about how exercise scientists were doubting the need to have a strong core. Pilates particularly is based around the principles that a strong core is the key to better posture and a life free from backpain.
The Times journalist Peta Bee questioned whether too much emphasis could in fact cause problems rather than solve them. Obviously being interested in all things that can help and prevent backpain, it was interesting to read an article which argues against core stability exercises.
We found this interesting rebuttal of the article by Glenn Withers. http://www.ausphysio.com/info/media.aspx?article=26, where he argues the article doesn’t include all the research in the area, and that actually core stability work does still have a place in today’s exercise routines.
Our view is that the article maybe concentrated too much in one area. We don’t believe that people with backpain should look for just one solution i.e. just doing core stability exercises, in fact most of our clients find that it’s a combination of factors that can reduce backpain. Exercise is just one factor. Lifestyle, working habits and stress levels are all factors, and often all need to be considered when people are reviewing why they are suffering with backpain.
People often start the process with treatment, and it often becomes a cycle – get treated, feel fine for awhile and then because nothing else has changed then the problem reoccurs. So then you have to look at changing your environment, which is often the way you work.
When people buy a new ergonomic chair from us, we often advise that this isn’t an instant cure. The ergonomic chair still needs to be set up correctly, the desk it’s being used at needs to be set up correctly and if you are using a laptop it’s essential to have it on a laptop stand. The next bit of the puzzle is to look at long term strengthening of your back, and that’s where we believe that exercise can help.
So to refer back to the article, actually if you only focus on one area such as core stability then you could be causing problems but if you think of core stability as one of the building blocks, it’s far more likely to be successful.
Posture People sells the first Profit Pure Office Chair
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010Posture People were really pleased to sell the first Profit Pure in the UK. The new ergonomic chair from BMA Nomique builds on their already successful design, but has a more stylish white finish to the chair.
We were also a bit star struck as the first person to seduced by the Profit Pure’s looks was Natasha Khan, a local Brighton artist better known as Bat for Lashes.
Natasha had this to say about the chair ‘I ordered the Profit Pure from Posture People for my home studio. I liked the chair because it’s a perfect balance between being great for my posture and also a beautiful design. Posture People have been extremely efficient and lovely to deal with’
Profit Pure Ergonomic Office Chair
We like the chair as it offers a real alternative to traditional black/chrome or polished finishes that other chairs are produced in, and fits in perfectly with today’s modern office schemes.
Put your back into it England
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010To celebrate the world cup, how about a St Georges Chair? RH have produced their fabulour Highback Extend & RH400 chair in this patriotic fabric. We couldn’t resist and have one on display in our Brighton Showroom.
To be honest the chair is a definite winner as RH have just extended the warranty period on the majority of their chairs to 10 years. So this chair will still be under warranty if England are successful in their bid to hold the World Cup in 2018.
To find out more about the range, or get a quote for a St Georges chair give us a call on 0845 313 1503.
Posture People customer wins best in show at Chelsea Flower Show
Monday, June 14th, 2010At Posture People we are lucky enough to have supplied products to some amazing people over the years, and we were really pleased to see that one of our customers, Andy Sturgeon won Best Show Garden this year at the Chelsea Flower Show. This fantastic award is given to the Show Garden judged to be the most outstanding, and is a real accolade for any garden designer.
To see why Andy won, click the links below to check out his award winning garden.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/chelsea/show-gardens/daily-telegraph-garden.shtml
http://www.crocus.co.uk/chelsea-andy-2010
A couple of years ago we supplied Andy and his team with fantastic bright green Axia office chairs a couple of years ago now, and Andy was kind enough to allow us to write a case study on why he chose ergonomic office chairs, and the impact they had on his team.
