Having trouble with your back? Part of  the reason may be that you spend the majority of your day sitting, and it may be causing gradual injury to your spine and surrounding muscles and joints. A good chair is vital for proper posture. It helps ward off chronic strain on your neck, back and shoulders.

First, know what your back needs

First try to remember that a good desk chair is the key component of your office and of your health. It is vital for proper posture, which helps ward off chronic strain on your neck, back and shoulders. There are many different chair options: Backward to upright - for people with neck and shoulder problems. Upright to forward - for dual height working. for those who may be between a drawing board and a desk. Leaning forward - a chair which offers a seated posture particularly suited to people who spend most of their working day leaning forward.

Other things to think about are chair arms or chair casters. Some people like chair arms; others can't work with them. Chair casters allow you to move efficiently around your office, but some people prefer stability. Physical therapists like you to move as much as possible because this allows the muscles you have been using a break, increasing the blood flow and aiding relaxation. However, it is important to have good core strength to stabilize in chairs which offer higher degrees of movement.

Chair buying tips

Never buy a chair without sitting on it. Height adjustable chairs are ideal - adjust the height of the chair so that feet are flat on the floor, also, sit with your back straight. Choose chairs with lumbar support - it is vital for the whole spine, if you slump, your head angles down, and you'll soon have neck and back pain. Make sure to synchronize seat and back tilt - that will help you maintain good posture. Also, make sure that if you are buying an office chair with armrests, be sure to buy adjustable armrests, as all arms are not created equal. With that you will help avoid neck, elbow, and wrist pain. 

For total comfort, seat and back foam must be dense enough to support your weight evenly and it should be sculpted to fit the natural form of the body.

Conclusion

Choose a chair that helps you to achieve more natural habits for your sitting, making it easy to sustain supported correct posture and active movement.

Be aware of what your body is telling you and take action if you are uncomfortable. Soon you will notice that your back doesn't hurt so badly, no matter how long you'll work in office!

 

How is facet joint syndrome treated?

The majority of the time facet joint syndrome is treated without surgery. Treatment may involve hands-on physical therapy (joint mobilization or manipulation), exercise, and education on good spine posture, anti-inflammatory medications, pain medications and activity modification. In some cases these treatments may not be effective and other options such as joint injections (with a steroid) or procedures that block the pain messages from the nerves that surround the affected facet joints may be helpful. Rarely, surgery is required.

Most individuals with facet joint syndrome will recover and return to normal activities. Proper posture, proper body mechanics, and certain exercises should be maintained in order to ensure ongoing back health. At CPAT, our PT's are trained to diagnose and treat these conditions- if you suspect you may have facet joint syndrome, or would like to have your back evaluated, please contact one of our offices.