You probably already felt the pain right now, even as you shifted in your chair a little while reading this. The fact is that most people who have a desk job spend a major part of their day sitting in a chair. As a result, the bum gets affected most of the time, with pain and uneasiness becoming a common everyday problem.
If you find yourself feeling uncomfortable while you’re sitting in your chair, or if you’ve already started feeling the pain, it’s time to take action.
How Your Chair Is Harming Your Bum
Your gluteal muscles are the ones that help movement in the lower part of your body. They also help the area around your hips, your pelvic joints and your lower back function properly, and play a big role in keeping your posture right. If your gluteal muscles are under stress, you will eventually feel the pain in your lower back, and also in your hips. In severe cases, the pain can also disrupt with your daily activities, including sitting, standing, lying down or walking. When you sit for long stretches, your gluteal muscles remain inactive and become weak. As a result, your ankles, hips and knees also start becoming weak. In some cases, when your hip muscles turn weak, they can change shape, and cause disfigurement of your hips.
Quick Tips To Ease The Pain
It is not possible to give up your office chair completely, but there are definitely certain things you can do that will reduce and prevent the pain.
- Make sure that you take frequent breaks in between work and get up from your chair. Simply get up and walk around the cubicle or the floor. Not only will it be good for your bum, it will also make you feel energized and refreshed and help you get back to work with an active and alert mind.
- Pay attention to your posture. If you feel you are slouching, sit up straight and give your head and neck a shake. Try placing a small pillow or a rolled up towel behind your lower back or around your bum to add support and improve posture.
- Adjust the height of your chair in such a way that it is comfortable for you to reach the desk.
- Some offices are adopting the stand and work policy, where employees are giving up their chairs and working while standing instead. If you have the option, you can work while standing and take small breaks to sit down instead. Make sure that the height of the counter or table where you place your screen while standing and working is appropriately adjusted.
- Do regular exercises to target your gluteal muscles, so that they remain active and are less stressed. Also, do regular stretching exercises, whether you are in office or otherwise.
The best time to take care and start working towards keeping your bum in good health is now. Don’t wait for the pain and discomfort to set in. Take preventive measures now instead before it is too late.
