Posture

[joesteph]

My posture's terrible, think its also partly to blame (or maybe a symptom) for upper back pain I get sometimes. . . . I think its so bad from sitting slumped in front of the computer/in lectures etc. . . . Lately I've been trying to sit and stand better so keep correcting myself.

Since the Jissen article and posting the posture topic, I have really been working at my posture. It's easier for me to remind myself about posture while standing than sitting, but I'm making headway. When I sit at the computer, sit watching a DVD with the children, or read a newspaper (I put a pillow on my lap to help me keep the newspaper higher), I'm careful about slumping in the seat.

Ouch! Now that I've been doing this, when I do forget and sit slumped, I start to feel it in my upper back! There's a spot on the right side of my spine (maybe b/c I'm right-handed) where the muscle will tighten if I don't correct my posture.

I've heard of "listen to your body," but mine is giving me a poke!

[DWx]

Know what you mean as I've been reading this I'm starting to slump forward

Least you're aware of it now Joe and can correct yourself.

[bushido_man96]

I try hard not to slump. I find that when I play video games or get on the computer, it helps to have a hard-backed chair to set in. Otherwise, I slump, and my back starts to hurt.

[joesteph]

I find that when I play video games or get on the computer, it helps to have a hard-backed chair to set in.

Interesting about the hard-backed chair, Brian. At home, the chair I have is the "comfortable" one that came with the desk--meaning it's not hard-backed, and I have to concentrate more about slumping. But in school, when I use the computer on a table in my classroom, I use a hard-backed chair. I'll bet I sit better there without even realizing it.

BTW, for those of us who have young ones and we're sitting on the floor with them, as I do with my 8-yr-olds, instead of sitting cross-legged, if I sit in the "half-lotus" position (lots of luck getting my legs into that full lotus!), I sit up better.

[bushido_man96]

Half lotus...have to try that. I have a problem of when I sit cross-legged, one of my feet will fall asleep.