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Fitness Tip | Good Posture While Sitting

Posted: June 10, 2009
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Author: Heather Edwards
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Filed under: Ask the Fitness Pro
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Tags: fitness tip, getting in shape, post divorce fitness

Posture is very important both at home and on the job. Back-friendly posture is a valuable component of preventing or managing back pain while performing any activity. Heather Edwards brings us the 4th in a series of regular fitness tips.

Strong and flexible muscles are essential to good sitting posture in addition to a handful of key positioning tips. Remember to make sure you are sitting straight up with your upper back and buttocks firmly against the chair. Draw your abdomen inward and have both feet flat on the floor with your knees bent. Keep your shoulders back, but relaxed, and pretend a string is attached to your chest and pulling upwards in front of your face, i.e. keeping your chest up and out. It also helps to keep your chair in close proximity to your desk or table.

If you are struggling to keep normal back curvature while sitting, use a lumbar roll or rolled-up towel behind the small of your back to maintain the natural back curve. Remember to change your position by standing, stretching or walking for a couple minutes every half hour so you are not in the same position too long. This causes muscle strain and back pain. Check yourself throughout the day and correct your posture. It’s tough to maintain at first, but soon enough you’ll find it becomes easier and hopefully habitual.

For a full bio of Heather Edwards, click here