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We have an epidemic of bad posture

levels.io

141–150 of 152 posts

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#141

I had pretty bad RSI some years ago, to the point where I thought I wouldn't be able to program anymore. However, I got through it, and I don't have any pains today. The key thing for me was starting to use a break program on my computer. Every 5 minutes I take a 10 seconds micro-break (let go of the mouse and keyboard). Every 45 minutes I take a 5 minute stretching break, and do 3 or 4 stretches. That, together with…

I seem to recall hearing from my doctor that the micropause software simply made some people freeze up and wait, making it worse.

She suggested that it would just be better to get up and do something completely different for a time. I found that, while working at home, hanging out laundry worked wonders.

I've had a lot of people deride me and laugh at me for that single phrase, but not one of them suffered the pain of RSI. They probably wouldn't laugh so readily if they couldn't feed themselves - or open a locked door - for several months.

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#142
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The best bang for buck ergonomics device for me has been a monitor stand that is spring loaded for easy height adjustment and goes higher than a normal monitor stand. You'll need one with a sit-stand desk anyway so I'd suggest getting one first. You need the monitor higher when standing to have correct posture. The monitor stands that come bundled with monitors are way too low if stationed on the same tabletop as you…

Can you recommend said spring loaded stand? I've just ordered a Varidesk (it hasn't arrived yet) but monitor height is one of the things I am worried about being a tall guy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00689HXI4/ref=oh_aui_se...

This one (Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Monitor Arm, Tall Pole) has been working well for me for the last couple of years, in conjunction with a Conset sit/stand desk (also great). I got the Tall Pole version just to be on the safe side, and it gives a lot of flexibility on where you want to position and angle the monitor.

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you want an "out-of-the-box" routine that's simple and balanced, I'd recommend "stronglifts" [0]. To be sure, it's a very strength-centric routine, but you can very well dial it back to twice a week and complement it with a weekly run. The reason I suggest this particular regimen is threefold: 1. it's simple 2. the "culture" of stronglifts focuses heavily on proper form 3. the exercises involved are compound (i.e.…

I recommend to use "ladder" technique instead of simple repeats, because it adjusts itself, so no need for app, spreadsheet, or personal trainer to calculate proper weights and number of repeats, moreover, it has lower risk of injure. Start with x repeats, then count to 20, do x•2, count to 20, do x•3, ..., until you tired, e.g. x•5, count to 100, then do x•4, count to 20, do x•3, count to 20, do x•2, count to 20, do…

I don't dislike your suggestion in the least, but it's a bit disingenuous to suggest that a routine like StrongLifts requires an app, spreadsheet or trainer.

You just do 5 sets of 5 reps for a couple of exercises... that's really all there is to it.

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#145
An epidemic you say, doctor?

Mostly I liked how you reconciled your personal pains with your expert domain knowledge about human biomechanics and health to provide medical advice, even providing Googled images that unequivocally demonstrate your claim and truly the extent of this epidemic.

Sorry your arms hurt.

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. Spend a month or two (or more if you have severe mechanical restrictions) familiarizing yourself with the proper form for the major barbell lifts, and then put yourself through a beginner program such as Starting Strength [1] , accompanied with good nutrition[2] and HIIT to keep bodyfat in check. On a side note, it's interesting to me that you singled out the deadlift, as I found the (back) squat the most ch…

> On a side note, it's interesting to me that you singled out the deadlift, as I found the (back) squat the most challenging lift to master. I totally agree with you, I feel that the goblet squat, front squat, and eventually the overhead squat are much better for beginners because they emphasize good movement mechanics in a way that the back squat allows you to cheat on (until you end up at the chiropractor). The rea…

I don't think I agree about the OHS; I think it's a move that is better suited to aspiring Olympic lifters due to its complexity and application to the snatch, but I'll leave that argument to the Contrerases of the world.

Very much with you on bracing and its essence in deadlifting, though.

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#147
post #68
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I don't know why people get surgery considering perioperative mortality[1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perioperative_mortality /s Obviously people die all the time and the cause of death can be attributed to any number of activities that are otherwise beneficial to the vast majority of people who undertake them.

There is a difference between a surgery removing a brain tumor and someone jerking your neck left and right due to some neck pain.

True, but your bias is showing.

There is also a difference between anaesthetizing someone to slice them open for an elective hip procedure vs having someone analyze your biomechanics and work to correct that through subtle lowerback/hip adjustments and strengthening supporting muscles through various exercises.

We could spend days going back and forth like this but it really boils down to you us having different ideas of what we're talking about when we say "chiropractics". I get the sense you've either never been to one, or else you went to a shitty one.

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#148
post #82
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chiropractors don't fall just into "straights" and "mixers", there are entire schools which focus on evidence-based biomechanic adjustments and others that get way more woo-woo about it with energy healing and whatnot. https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/science-based-chiroprac... That guy spent years being a chiropractor and while he acknowledges that the postulates of vertebral subluxation theory is implausible, h…

> That guy spent years being a chiropractor and while he acknowledges that the postulates of vertebral subluxation theory is implausible, he was also able to spend years helping people with spinal manipulations working as a chiropractor. Did he help them or did he deliver placebos? "Most cases of back pain are self limiting, and spinal manipulation is not often more effective than other physical treatment modalities…

Effectiveness in treating what? And what do you mean when you say chiropractics?

You want a study on effectiveness in treating asthma or deafness, then it's probably not available.

Effectiveness in treating something like scoliiosis? Yep, there is a study for that[1]. How about headaches? Seems to be some positive research on it[2].

Now I'm no scientist or statistician and there are also studies point to non-effectiveness in things like lower back-pain[3], yet even that study acknowledges that it's difficult to ascertain since most chiropractic packages aren't limited to simply adjustments.

I find it interesting how many people denounce sweeping generalizations when it comes to programming paradigms and approaches to infrastructure and application development... yet still fall victim to it when it's a topic outside their domain.

We're still just talking about problem solving here, so how come it's not a matter of defining the problem and assessing each approach in context of that problem?

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259989/

[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8775024

[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447290/

Re: We have an epidemic of bad posture

#150
post #52

About eleven years ago I started having crippling RSI in my hands and wrists. I fit the typical patient... Type all day sitting at a desk. Posted about it on Slashdot and someone told me to look up TMS. Changed my life. After years of problems it completely went away in weeks. After years of searching for ergonomic solutions it was bizarre that following TMS treatment cured it in weeks and now I don't do anything erg…

Did you do specific exercises, or just read and re-read Sarno's books to make the concept stick?
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