Do you suffer from pain or stiffness in your neck, shoulders, mid or lower back? You’re not alone, and your favorite furniture could be to blame.
The American Chiropractic Association says that back pain is the second-most common reason for a visit to the doctor, and it’s the most frequent cause of activity limitations among working-age adults. Back pain is also the most expensive healthcare problem in this demographic.
Whether sitting at home or at the office, a neutral posture is ideal for mitigating and reducing problematic back pain. When seated, the feet should be flat on the floor, knees slightly higher than the hips and the head directly over the top of the shoulders. A neutral seated posture will also benefit your circulation and digestive health.
But many of us spend a large portion of each day sitting on furniture that doesn’t allow for that ideal neutral posture. A recent study revealed that professional-level workers spend 93% of their work day sitting in an office chair. And when you consider that we also do a lot of sitting at home on deep, soft couches, it’s not surprising that 85% of Americans experience back pain by age 50, and 85% of those people have it recurrently.
“The average furniture is made for a 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pound male; however, only 2% of the population fits that baseline,” said Scott Bautch, DC, DACBOH, president of the ACA Council on Occupational Health. “Good furniture with an ergonomic feel that fits a larger part of the population with different posture types and needs is essential.”
The Ekornes Stressless furniture collection, which includes sofas, recliners, and office chairs, is ergonomically designed to reduce back pain, and it’s endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. Recliners are available in small, medium, and large sizes to accommodate a range of body compositions.
Stressless seating is also equipped with patented comfort technologies for lumbar, back and neck support. Its newest technology is the BalanceAdapt™ system, which gives select Stressless recliners a slight back-and-forth motion simulating buoyancy. Another important feature is the patented Plus™ system, which articulates with the body’s contour for the ideal lower back and head support in an upright or reclined position.
The Waides invite you to visit our furniture showrooms in Roanoke or Forest and let us help you find your new favorite furnishings.
