[mattyb]

Interesting.

I'm on my arse far too much during the weekday. 8 hours per day at my desk, then home and sitting either in front of the computer at another desk or in front of the TV on the couch. Kids are in bed by 9pm so its sure that I'm seated for at least 3 hours per night. Weekends are better but I'm still at a desk or on a couch at least 2 hours Sat and Sun.

Might ask to get my desk raised at work.

[sek929]

It always amazes me the level of back problems and such with my friends who sit at desk-jobs. I work on my feet everyday, and actually use my back and I couldn't be any more fit...well I could, but I'm still in very good shape.

[The Final Dakar]

1st world problems.

This won't be a concern once we evolve into entities of pure energy.

[andi*pandi]

back problems, hip problems, shoulder problems. Damn computers.

(getting old sucks)

[Dork.]

Sitting at a 135 degree backwards incline is better for your back than sitting straight up? Huh. I have my chair at a 90 degree angle, but I slouch most of the time. Am I good, then?

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

1st world problems.

This won't be a concern once we evolve into entities of pure energy.

Like this?

[The Final Dakar]

You need to take a science course.

(Also, Jeff Garlin is awesome)

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by mattyb 

Interesting.

I'm on my arse far too much during the weekday. 8 hours per day at my desk, then home and sitting either in front of the computer at another desk or in front of the TV on the couch. Kids are in bed by 9pm so its sure that I'm seated for at least 3 hours per night. Weekends are better but I'm still at a desk or on a couch at least 2 hours Sat and Sun.

Might ask to get my desk raised at work.

Nothing surprising in this, is there?

If I have a really busy, stressful week of school and work (like, going straight from class, where I’m sat on a chair, to work, where I’m sat on a chair, and then directly home to sleep; rinse, repeat), and don’t have time to take any exercise, I can feel my back getting all bent out of shape and shore within a few days.

Which reminds me that I ought to have been out running today, but didn’t manage to. Will have to go tomorrow morning before school instead.

[ghporter]

It's not sitting as such, but how you sit and for how long. For activities, such as using a computer, you need to sit erect with ankles, knees and hips at 90º, and with your neck upright. Your monitor should be close to the right height, too-your eyes should be at a level about 1/3 down from the top of the viewable screen area. And your keyboard and mouse should be set at a height so your arms can hang straight down from your shoulders instead of having to reach up and/or forward. And don't rest your arms on armrests-you don't need them and they tend to make your shoulders and neck hurt (slowly enough that you don't really notice until you're really uncomfortable).

And you shouldn't sit for more than 15 minutes at a time without doing something else. Stretch, stand up for a minute, something. Put good sitting position and limited time in that position together, and you eliminate almost all the problems in the article-without any real effort.
I have to take issue with the next-to-last graphic though. "Sitting at 135º puts less strain on your back" is only an issue if you have serious back problems, and sitting that way puts enormous strain on your hips, neck and shoulders as soon as you try to DO anything at all.

[design219]

I raised my desk last month, but I still have a stool for when I get fatigued.

My desk was easy to raise (it's one of those ikea glass top on sawhorses) but it still didn't get high enough so I cut some pieces of 2x4 to get it just right. I love it. I'm using the stool less and less.

[besson3c]

Hehh... stool.

[design219]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Hehh... stool.

Yeah, it's really old, too. I want something new, but can't tell how comfortable anything will be by looking online.

I think I need some stool samples.

[imitchellg5]

I stand generally 8-10 hours per day. And my back hurts.

[ghporter]

Standing too much is as bad as sitting too much. And unless your shoes are right, unless you have good posture and core strength, unless you keep moving while standing, you will definitely have a variety of pain sources. I spent almost 12 years working on my feet as an instructor, and it was an important thing to vary stance, direction of movement, and speed of movement. Instructor training emphasized "keep moving" for instructional purposes-it keeps both the instructor and students engaged and attentive, and engages the students individually. But it took a long time for me to appreciate how this policy also kept one from hurting from all that teaching on one's feet.

[glideslope]

My oldest son fractured his L5 years ago from a cheap shot during a Senior High School Soccer game. Was in a body brace from his waist to neck for 7 months.

His surgeon told him he could never have a desk job. Fortunately he does not, and even plays some Hoops again. He does have daily stretching and exercise routines. Pain free for now.

No question it bothers him during family gatherings. He can't sit more than a couple hours without having to stand and do his routines.

Backs are very tricky. Good information.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by glideslope 

My oldest son fractured his L5 years ago from a cheap shot during a Senior High School Soccer game. Was in a body brace from his waist to neck for 7 months.

Damn!! Bet that was a scary time. Hope the fouler got punished somehow.