12 Ways Your Furniture is Wrecking Your Posture

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If you thought your homes were a safe haven, guess what – the very furniture providing comfort may lead to common posture issues. As the line between home and the office continues to fade, more people set up camp from sofas or dining chairs, not realizing the impact these furnitures have on body posture.

Feeling the pain at the end of the day or the week due to improper sitting posture means that taking time to learn about various ergonomic furniture and sitting techniques is highly helpful. This guide explores how your furniture is wrecking your posture and provides tips for sitting, relaxing or working, in ways that is less damaging to your health.

Slouch-Inducing Sofas

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Some sofas are attractive but usually they are not ergonomic furniture pieces designed to support the human body. If your sofa is soft or if it has saggy areas, you are likely to slump, or get in a poor posture. In the long run, this puts a lot of pressure on the muscles that make up the core and the spine. Replace a soft and comfortable couch with one that is stiffer to help you maintain the right posture.

Non-Ergonomic Office Chairs

It means that if you work at the wrong height or your chair does not provide correct lumbar support, you are likely to slouch and end up with a backache. Staying for hours on a non-ergonomic chair, particularly one which cannot be adjusted, also leads to problems on shoulders and necks. The appropriate chair for any computer user is an ergonomically designed chair that should be at the same level as the desk.

Overstuffed Armchairs

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Sitting in an overstuffed armchair will give you back aches especially your lower back. When your hips drop too low, it can cause your spine to be round… and it is detrimental for long term posture. Select a chair that will help you maintain a good spine placement such that even when seated, your knees form right angles.

Low Coffee Tables

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To grab a coffee cup or a snack presented on the low table, one has to bend over the table constantly. This repeated movement puts much pressure on your lower back and fosters improper sitting postures. This strain can be relieved by using a taller coffee table, which means that items are closer to you.

Soft Mattresses

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According to Bed Consultant, a soft mattress will cause the spine to be out of shape as when sleeping and will result in waking up with a backache. If not supported adequately, it compresses, which can worsen pressure areas, and affects your posture in the process. A firm mattress, but not too firm, provides the much-needed support for your spine while giving comfort.

Unsupported Dining Chairs

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If dining chairs don’t have adequate back support, it may force one to sit with their back parallel to the table, or rounded. Backrests and chairs without proper and comfortable seats also make people to lean due to the soreness. Make your priority to search for chairs with back and seat parts that are firm and capable to help you to sit straight.

Deep Lounge Chairs

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Recliner chairs or any kind of chair that permits the sitter to recline too much strains the curve of the spine. If you spend a lot of time in them sitting will cause slumping and rounding of your spine which is terrible for your posture in the long run. It has been found that a forward tilted but slightly backrest inclined chair is better for your spine.

Low Beds

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Getting in and out of low beds puts a strain on the back, especially for those who have had an operation or those who are overweight. That repeated force or pressure, over time, causes unpleasant sensations in the lower back, which also results in compromised ergonomics throughout the day. An easy access bed means that the bed is at an appropriate height so that one can be able to ease oneself around.

Oversized Sectionals

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Reclining sofa styles that include wide, low seats that would seem perfect for lounging should not be considered because they are usually not ergonomic enough to ensure that users sit up straight. If your legs go out in front of you or your back is not supported, you are likely to slouch. New models of sectionals with rigid seats and backrests are healthier for your body.

Bean Bags

Bean bags are fun and comfortable but unfortunately do not lend any support to the spinal structure of the body. Sitting in one places the body in unnatural postures such as a slouch and may be very hard to correct after sometime. If you love to take a nap while reading or watching TV for instance then you need to consider changing from a normal chair to one that will have back support.

Bar Stools Without Footrests

According to Huset Furniture, chair stools that do not have a foot rail cause the legs to dangle and this tends to pull on the lower back. Such an uneven distribution leads to sit and standing with wrong posture which in the long run causes back aches. Always prefer bar stools with foot support so that even your legs are well taken care of.

Heavy Couches You Can’t Move

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Some couches may be so heavy that they can only be moved once, and you end up sitting at the same odd angle all day. The repetitive nature of such positioning may result in uneven muscle distribution and, therefore affect your posture. It is helpful here to swap around your furniture or choose lighter pieces that will force more alterations in posture.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.