Don't let this infographic fool you—we know . It’s been linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even cancer   . Not to mention, sitting for long periods of time can cause your muscles to , and has you burning one calorie a minute, a third of what it would be if you were walking . And that’s even when you have good posture! But most of us don’t even i good posture. We’re sitting like contortionists and twisted pretzels, setting ourselves up for a lifetime of pain and injuries . And although standing desks (or even treadmilll desks) are trendy, they haven't become the office norm just yet—making sitting the majority of the day pretty inevitable. To avoid the scary consequences of days spent on our rears, we teamed up with , a chiropractor at Manhattan’s , to find the best way to sit at our desks. It’s important to have your eyes in line with the area of the screen you focus on the most, whether that’s the top (if you’re sending lots of emails), or the bottom (if you’re writing a bunch of code).

Looking down at your screen puts excess strain on your neck, which leaves you vulnerable to injuries such as cervical disc herniation, cervical strains, and headaches. Stacking books under your monitor is a simple trick if you need to raise your screen to be at eye level. And if you happen to be a multi-monitor worker, make sure you apply this tip to the monitor you use the most—the last thing you want is an injury from looking sideways all day. Anything that you constantly use (think your phone, mouse, or water bottle) can be a stressor on your body if you’re always reaching out to grab it. Instead of forcing your body to overwork (and be in an uncomfortable position), keep these must-use items within a foot. When your arms are stretched and extended, your shoulders actually start to rotate forward, causing you to lose strength in your upper back. To avoid shoulder injuries and chronic upper back pain, keep your arms at a comfortable 90-degree angle in a nice, neutral resting position.

Chairs come with armrests for a reason, so don’t be afraid to let them lend you a helping hand! You want your back to be comfortable and supported, with a small curve in the lumbar spine where your natural lower back (or lordotic curve) is. Without support, the back tends to get too much of a curve in the opposite direction—what’s known as , or more commonly, —leaving the lower back perfectly exposed to disc herniation and chronic postural lower back sprains and strains (the most common injuries Brown sees). comfy reading chair for bedroomIf you don’t have a chair that can provide support, get creative! cheap chair cover rentals las vegasPillows and jackets are the perfect solution to such a problem.best budget gaming chair

When your legs are crossed or just your toes are touching the floor, you’re putting unnecessary stress on large supportive muscles and hampering proper blood flow (hello, pins and needles). Even little things—like keeping your legs crossed all day long—can lead to chronic pain. It’s of course OK to cross your legs every once in a while, but it’s important to be aware of your body position. While seated, you never want to be reaching or leaning forward. Well here’s a fun fact: For every inch that the head comes forward, the spine feels like is has taken on an —bringing on some major strain for your muscles.ikea office chair usa Little changes to your posture matter. ikea high chair stackBad sitting habits—from slouching to crossing your legs—can lead to serious injuries and chronic pain. dining room chairs swivel

Fortunately, most of these issues are preventable, and regardless of if you’re big or small, there’s a creative way to make your desk setup and posture a bit better. (There’s zero shame is stacks of printer paper people!) It won’t feel awesome at first—we know the ideal posture is rarely the most comfortable—but that doesn’t mean you should give in to your long-standing (er, sitting) habits. Try slowly incorporating these changes (i.e. five minutes every half hour at first) to get your body adjusted to a healthier posture, and over time, sitting properly won’t feel awkward at all. chair cover hire new forestYou better believe your body will thank you.cheap salon chairs sydneySitting on an ergonomic chair can improve your comfort and the health of your back. dental chairs for sale usa

I am frequently asked, "What is the best ergonomic chair?" There is no single 'best ergonomic chair' that fits all body shapes and sizes and that is comfortable for everyone. However, there are questions you should ask about a chair before you try it to determine how well it has been ergonomically designed for you: Sit on the chair, don't just look at it! The term 'ergonomic design' is like the term 'low calorie'. It describes a minimum set of requirements and not a single, universal product. You can only tell whether an ergonomic chair will work for you if you sit in the chair for some time. Of course, if it's really uncomfortable, then you will know this pretty quickly. But, sometimes things that seem comfortable after a few minutes use don't work so well in the long term. Is the seat comfortable? The seat shouldn't feel too hard or soft, be uncomfortable under your hips or thighs, and it should not be too long. Use the 1-inch rule: The seat pan should be at least 1-inch wider than your hips and thighs, and there should be at least a 1-inch gap between the front of the seat and the back of your knees when you're sitting back in the chair.

Is the back comfortable? When you sit back, do your lower back and shoulder blades feel well-supported? Look for a chair with a height-adjustable lumbar back support to snugly fit the curve of your lower back. Check that the chair still fits your back whether you sit upright or lean back. Make sure the chair back is wide enough for your back, but not so wide that it restricts your arm movements. Avoid chairs with a static back that adjusts and locks to only one position because it will only support you in that one position. Look for a 'dynamic back' to allow you to easily move and recline in the chair while being supported at all positions. Can you easily use the controls? Avoid chairs with controls that are complicated, poorly designed and inconveniently placed. Look for chairs that have controls that can easily be reached when sitting down and that are easy to use. At a minimum you should be able to control the height of the seat, but you might also be able to control the seat pan depth and tilt.

Some chairs provide a tension control for the seat back while other chairs do this automatically based on your body weight. Do you need adjustable armrests? Not all chairs have armrests. Using armrests helps you to get in and out of a chair and helps to protect your knees and back from undue strain. So look for the armrest feature. Check to make sure the chair armrests are strong enough for your weight and will not tip the chair when you push down on them. Armrests are also useful for occasionally resting. Look for broad, contoured, cushioned and comfortable armrests that you can easily adjust while sitting. At a minimum, you should be able to adjust armrest height. Some chairs also let you adjust armrest angle in and out and forwards or backwards. Look for chairs where you can easily move the arms out of the way when not needed. What about a headrest? A headrest is a useful feature. The chair headrest helps to reduce strain on the neck and shoulders when you recline back in the chair.