The Art of Design Issue 68 2024 | Page 16

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WHY GOOD POSTURE DOESN ’ T MATTER

Family-owned ergonomic furniture experts , Back in Action , explore why we need to be talking about balance .
It has long been assumed that bad posture or slouching was the route of back pain . However , Back in Action is here to dispel this and instead tell us that posture is less important and that we should be talking about balance .
Concentrating solely on posture and keeping your back straight can cause people to stiffen up , whereas Back in Action encourages movement and balance as the focus for back health . Lucinda Newbound , Senior Ergonomic Expert for Back in Action , explains , ‘ Nearly all back problems can be solved with movement . Stop trying to focus on sitting up straight , as this is causing your body to not move . Engage your core and balance instead .’
Kneeling chairs , balance balls or seating cushions will engage your core and force you to balance when sitting while also ensuring your body continues to move which is vital . Movement can help ease back pain by stretching tight muscles as well as strengthening them . By looking after your core and back muscles , it can help to support your back and as a result will benefit your posture without having to focus on it . If you minimise activity , it ’ s likely to lead to problems in the long term . Ensuring your back and core muscles are strong , will , in the long term , work towards keeping your back healthy .
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Nell Mead , Physiotherapist , further explains the reason movement is so vital , ‘ As adults , we are made of around 65 % water . Water carries nutrients to our cells , flushes away the waste products of metabolism , feeds our joint cartilage and provides lubrication that allows our muscles and connective tissue to glide and slide smoothly . But water can only do all this when it is flowing freely . And what encourages flow ? Movement and pressure change . Getting up , sitting down , moving ,