If you’ll be good to your back, particularly if you have work that requires you to sit at a desk for hours, you’ll avoid pain and you may even find it helps your productivity and energy. The way you sit is extremely important for the health of your back. Slouching or slumping can stress your neck, arms, legs, back muscles, over stretch the spinal ligaments, and strain your spinal discs. Sit up straight, and read on. Here are a few suggestions from the American Academy of Physicians to keep your back healthy:

• Choose chairs with straight backs or low-back support. If the chair doesn’t provide lower back support, place a rolled towel or small pillow behind your back.
• When sitting, your knees should be a little higher than your hips.
• To turn around and look at something, move your entire body rather than simply twisting at your waist.
• Adjust the chair until your feet sit flat on the floor.
• Keep head up and avoid leaning forward towards computer screen.

Other Chair Choices

The tips above apply to traditional chairs that are designed to give you complete support, but there are alternative chairs. A kneeling chair promotes good posture without a back support, and an exercise ball helps develop your abdominal and back muscles while you sit. If you have an injured back or any other health problems, talk with your doctor before you use these chairs.

Don’t Sit Still No matter what kind of chair you have and how comfortable you are, sitting in the same position for too long is not good for your back. If you stand, stretch, and walk around for a minute or two every half hour, your joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons will remain looser, and that will help you stay comfortable, relaxed, and more productive.

Sources: apta.org, familydoctor.org, nlm.nih.gov