How to Improve Your Back Posture in the Workplace

You spend so much time at work, it is absolutely imperative that you maintain good back posture habits at all times. Failure to do so can result in bad posture with painful consequences. Back pain is one of the most common work-related injuries and is often caused by ordinary work activities such as sitting in an office chair or lifting heavy items.

There are typically two types of situations that cause people to start having back pain or to sustain a back injury while on the job:

1. Non-accidental injury, where pain arises as a result of normal work activities. People who sit for most of the day (such as those who work at a computer while sitting in an office chair) and who do not pay careful attention to good back posture, are at high risk for non-accidental back injury.
   
2. Poor body mechanics (such as slouching in an office chair or not sitting correctly).

Prolonged activity, repetitive motions, and fatigue are major contributors to these injuries.

If you want to improve your back posture in the workplace, you should pay particular attention to:

• Your sitting posture while working at your desk
• Your computer posture if you work at a computer for long periods
• Your standing posture if your work demands a lot of standing. Have you noticed how many postal workers have developed bad forward heard posture from looking down all day long?
• Posture and ergonomics while lifting and carrying boxes and heavy loads
• Taking periodic breaks
• Wearing the correct shoes (high heel shoes contribute to bad posture)
• Stretching regularly – this is the key to posture improvement

One of the best ways to stretch is to use a posture cushion. They improve your back posture and slouching, reduce forward head posture and they stretch the front upper body tissues. A good posture cushion will also increase blood circulation and respiratory functions, relieve muscle tension, and improve posture by aligning your head, neck and upper body.

Remember that there is a direct correlation between bad posture and poor health. Good posture in the workplace has enormous benefits for you. It will lead to improved energy levels, increased productivity and a decrease in bodily aches and pains.

For more information on how to improve your posture, please visit http://www.posturepal.com/