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Your Office Chair Is Killing You

businessweek.com

51–60 of 88 posts

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#51
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about one of these instead of a treadmill? http://www.amazon.com/Stamina-40-0045C-InStride-Electronic-S... The same company also makes a compact elliptical.

its impossible to cheat while standing on a treadmill, but those things you can just stop.

I'd call the ability to "cheat" a plus.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#52
post #3

Get a treadmill desk: http://frog.posterous.com/the-treadmill-desk-returns

How feasible is this? Can anyone share their experiences?

I am going to use a "Twist Board" at one of my desks, and a compace elliptical at the other. Both desks are going to be converted to standing desks.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#53

I can't believe that some ergonomics researchers are actually endorsing my crazy idea of setting up a treadmill and walking while working. Maybe I have to try that now. It's a pity that treadmills are so pricey. Incidentally, the ability to move around in different positions while reading is a major reason I bought the iPad.

Incidentally, the ability to move around in different positions while reading is a major reason I bought the iPad.

I find my spine tends to be in a C shape more while using the iPad, unless I am lying down.

I am going to experiment with a twist board and an elliptical trainer with standing desks. Starting today, with the desks.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_Chair A ball chair is not an exercise ball chair. Looking at the illustration on Wikipedia, it's clear that a ball chair forces a C-shaped spine. Your spine will stay in an S-shape if you sit upright on the "chair" I'm referring to.

Seeing as that design is never mentioned in respects to ergonomics and certainly wouldn't "bounce" anything, I strongly suspect the quoted passage was referring to the inflated balls you sit on.

You're right. That's one of the disadvantages of linking to the printer friendly version of an article. You miss out on those "link" things that made this "interweb" thing famous:

http://images.businessweek.com/mz/10/19/0509_chairs.pdf

I'm just going to continue as usual, using the ball chair and alternating with a normal chair if needed. My spine feels great and definitely has a more natural shape when sitting on the ball vs. a normal chair.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#55
There's also a PDF accompanying the article, with pictures of some of the chairs:

http://images.businessweek.com/mz/10/19/0509_chairs.pdf

Rant (stop reading if you're not interested): Posting it here, since we're all so obsessed with printer friendly versions of articles, because we can't stand clicking to view the second half of an article. Unfortunately, the printer friendly version doesn't contain links like this one.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#56

I've been thinking of setting up a standing work environment. Anyone have articles or recommendations for setting one up?

After estimating the height I needed to raise my desk, I bought some cinder blocks and pavers from Home Depot for about $10 and just put them under my desk legs. I used some old books to prop up my monitors, but blocks of printer paper work well too.

An anti-fatigue mat is an excellent investment, but even with that be prepared for a few weeks of achy feet/legs. You get used to it eventually, but man, it feels nice to crash on the couch in the evening.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#57
1.5 months ago I got rid of my chair and made my desk work at standing level. I love it. My body feels better. I can't ever foresee myself going back. I was originally going to buy a good chair but I didn't see the point when it seemed that standing would be better, cheaper, and allow me to be more flexible with my space.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#59

Anyone have a good chair recommendation that doesn't cost $500? The stool concept struck me as a great idea, until I saw the price. (Maybe I should be in chairs?)

This came up on HN a while back: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=585693 .

The short answer: no. Chairs appear to be one of these products in which you get what you pay for.

Re: Your Office Chair Is Killing You

#60
post #36

Anyone have a good chair recommendation that doesn't cost $500? The stool concept struck me as a great idea, until I saw the price. (Maybe I should be in chairs?)

Here's the thing. Don't be put off by the expensive price of ergonomic chairs. I bought my Aeron chair in 2002 and have used it every day since. It's made a huge difference in my back and neck. The chair cost be around $700 at the time, so that's Also the chair came with a 12 year warranty. A couple months ago the pneumatic cylinder went out. I called a local Aeron deal and since I bought the chair from a authorized…

"Also the chair came with a 12 year warranty. A couple months ago the pneumatic cylinder went out. I called a local Aeron deal and since I bought the chair from a authorized dealer, they sent somebody to my house and fixed it for free."

The seat pan on my Dad's chair (which he bought around 1997) broke a couple of times, at which point they simply replaced the entire chair.

He's been using it without complaint ever since.

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