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Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

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Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#31

Post by mtalantikite »

muskox2 wrote: post #28
mtalantikite wrote: post #23

I don't know, I found the best way to fix issues with my posture was to strengthen my core and shoulders, while increasing flexibility in my hamstrings, hip flexors, and shoulders. I also never brought my aeron chair home from my office space when the lockdown started and for the past year I've used a cheap piano bench at my desk that has no back. Forces me to stay upright all day and it's been surprisingly great. Th…

I concur, shoulder and back work is one thing that helped me open my chest up more than anything else. Even just hanging on a set of rings for a minute after sitting for a while feels really good.

Totally, dead hangs are amazing. I have a pull-up bar over the door to my office and will just hang there for a minute from time to time when I'm walking through it. Wish I had the space to mount the rings I have inside though!

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#32

Post by idkwhoiam »

I never had back problems but lockdown is doing its thing. I used to be involved in all kinds of indoor team sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball) & was a regular visitor to a gym. I don't move much nowadays. I go for a walk every evening. I have a pair of dumbells. Needless to say it does not replace a fully equipped gym. There's no room for a proper power rack in my tiny apartment. So yeah, I hope this pandemic ends before I develop health issues from sitting too much.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#33

Post by ak217 »

mtalantikite wrote: post #23

I don't know, I found the best way to fix issues with my posture was to strengthen my core and shoulders, while increasing flexibility in my hamstrings, hip flexors, and shoulders. I also never brought my aeron chair home from my office space when the lockdown started and for the past year I've used a cheap piano bench at my desk that has no back. Forces me to stay upright all day and it's been surprisingly great. Th…

I agree. In my experience, most back injuries are the result of insufficient core strength, insufficient stretching, or insufficient cross-training. The chair and posture has a lot less impact than stretching my back, wrists, and doing some situps.

I have to admit though, I don't stand up and walk around as much when I'm at my desk at home, compared to the office. I need to set myself a timer to walk around every 30 minutes.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#34

Post by whnless »

trewnews wrote: post #5
hn8788 wrote: post #2

My wife and I used our first stimulus checks to buy Herman Miller chairs for our home offices, and it's probably the single biggest QoL increase I can remember from a purchase.

It has been the worst for me since I have bought a Herman Miller Aeron. The thing leans to the right. I have got replacements, but they were all made the same month and have the same leaning issue. Some worse some better. Such poor quality control.

Not trying to defend HM (never tried their chairs), but I own a new Steelcase Leap V2 chair and I have the same issue. The replacement is as bad, leaning to the right. Apparently it is a design feature. I don't understand how these expensive furniture shops can ignore such obvious issues.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#35

Post by cultofmetatron »

trewnews wrote: post #5
hn8788 wrote: post #2

My wife and I used our first stimulus checks to buy Herman Miller chairs for our home offices, and it's probably the single biggest QoL increase I can remember from a purchase.

It has been the worst for me since I have bought a Herman Miller Aeron. The thing leans to the right. I have got replacements, but they were all made the same month and have the same leaning issue. Some worse some better. Such poor quality control.

I find the hag capisco more comfortable for working. something about it just makes you naturally sit up straight. I slouch in anything else.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#36

Post by scsilver »

mtalantikite wrote: post #23

I don't know, I found the best way to fix issues with my posture was to strengthen my core and shoulders, while increasing flexibility in my hamstrings, hip flexors, and shoulders. I also never brought my aeron chair home from my office space when the lockdown started and for the past year I've used a cheap piano bench at my desk that has no back. Forces me to stay upright all day and it's been surprisingly great. Th…

Ive taken up Bouldering as a sport that is super compatible with WFH in a city. You can go to the gym, and interleave shoulder and core excersizes with coding sessions. I did this before the pandemic and am not in the city now, but when I go back, its a great way to stay in shape in that environment.

Rings are a cheap and portable excersize tool as well.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#37

Post by tombert »

hn8788 wrote: post #2

My wife and I used our first stimulus checks to buy Herman Miller chairs for our home offices, and it's probably the single biggest QoL increase I can remember from a purchase.

I didn't get a stimulus check but I similarly bought a decent SecretLab chair for me and my wife once COVID hit and I absolutely love it.

Until the pandemic, I rarely used my desk at home, so it just had a cheapy desk chair I got on Amazon years ago, but once it became my main "office", it became clear that a cheap chair going to really hurt my back and butt if I used it multiple hours a day.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#38

Post by megameter »

My "desk" is actually four stations that I switch between.

1. Gas arm mounted monitor over the floor for lying supinated.

2. Floor desk with a backrest.

3. Rocking chair with a lap desk.

4. Prone using a laptop.

I also switch between various wireless peripherals as I switch between stations.

Of the four I'd say the floor desk is actually the best long term one because it's easy to shift position when working wirelessly, but the desk and mounting solution I have isn't quite tall enough to hold my gaze forward. Still, it's fine for a day.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#39

Post by Eric_WVGG »

If anyone is interested in a gadgety solution to improving posture, I was convinced by this engineer/wife-guy's review to try this sticky sensor that detects if you're sitting upright, and concur — it's quite good!

https://www.ryanandalex.com/upright-go-2-review/

[edit] Like an idiot I charged into this conversation with reading the article, which mentions it but not in any serious detail. So anyway, if you're curious, do read this review, it's got graphs and metrics and all that goodness.

Re: Posture: Is the Pandemic Breaking Our Backs?

#40

Post by trewnews »

aphextron wrote: post #16
trewnews wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has been the worst for me since I have bought a Herman Miller Aeron. The thing leans to the right. I have got replacements, but they were all made the same month and have the same leaning issue. Some worse some better. Such poor quality control.

The quality has gone downhill the last few years with the new "remastered" Aeron chairs, IMO. Lots more plastic and thinner/lighter metal components. Anyone looking to get one you're better off with a 5+ year old refurbished classic. Half the price and honestly better.

This is interesting. Have you got any more information/literature? I really need to find a solution.
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