Did you know that almost 7 out of 10 people experience back pain while working at their desks? If you tuned in earlier this week to the Fellowes Canada #WorkSmart Twitter chat, you probably already knew that. And perhaps you're among the 70% of us who suffer from back tension. As much as I would love to remedy the pain with a week's vacation lounging at the beach or a weekend getaway at the spa, we all know that there is a more feasible solution: remove the risk from your workspace. Prevention is the best medicine, as they say.
Fortunately, Fellowes has identified back tension as one of four well-being zones to target if you want to make your workspace more ergonomically sound. They offer, as a solution, a selection of back supports and lumbar cushions to be used on chairs that do not provide proper lumbar support. The Professional Series Back Support with Microban Protection, as seen above, provides mid spinal support as well as lower lumbar support with memory foam cushions that help to promote good posture. This back support is designed with your spine in mind and is contoured to support the natural curvature in your back. It is made with a soft, breathable fabric and I found it quite easy to adjust. It is currently available at Walmart for $72.97.
Fellowes also sent over an I-Spire Series Lumbar Cushion for me to try out as it targets one of my most troublesome areas - my lower back. Designed to help reduce back tension, the cushion is made with breathable mesh fabric and has an adjustable strap with buckles. I wanted to use it at work but the back of my office chair is quite narrow which meant I couldn't tighten the strap enough to prevent it from moving. So I now use the lumbar cushion in my home office and the Professional Series Back Support in my work office.
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| I-Spire Series Lumbar Cushion - $25.28 at Walmart |
We all know that good posture is important but I wanted to share some tips from Fellowes on how to improve the way we sit at our desks. My short-legged self needs to try the first one. I've never had a foot rest at my desk before but I suspect I would greatly benefit from one.
Checklist Zone 1: Seating and Posture
- Chair Height - Keep your feet on the floor or on a foot support.
- Seat Pan Depth - The back of your knees should not touch the seat.
- Back Position - Your back should be in contact with as much of the chair as possible.
- Neutral Posture - Work in a position that requires the smallest amount of muscle activity.
To learn more about the remaining zones, visit the Fellowes Solution Centre. Additionally, you can read about how Sheri of Kidsumers tackled Zone 3: Neck, Shoulder and Eye Strain. For more tips on how to achieve a healthy and comfortable workspace, I highly recommend that you refer to Fellowes' Ergonomic Checklist. There are so many useful suggestions so you may want to bookmark it for later reference.
- Saturday, January 24, 2015
- 103 Comments
