The Wall Street Journal featured an article by Sue Shellenbarger (Wednesday, September 21, 2011) about the importance of ergonomic chairs in the workplace. Ergonomics is a term often used when referring to workplace furniture, but having a comfortable chair in your home is important too. You may not be working in an office anymore, but it is still important to have furniture that will enhance your performance and your life.
The vacation cottage that we stayed at this summer was furnished with antique furniture. The place was charming but the furniture was far from comfortable. My husband and I were quite alarmed at how difficult it was to get in and out of the sofa and chairs. We don’t consider ourselves elderly yet, but this revelation brought to mind the importance of suitable furniture. The shape, style, and how a piece of furniture looks seems less important now. Did you know that standing up from a seated position requires more leg strength and a greater range of motion than walking or stair climbing? The ability to stand up from a seated position is essential for independent living.
Whether of not to occupy a certain chair is determined by how easy it is to sit down and get up from it. Young people do not have a problem because their muscles are solid, their joints are flexibility, and they seldom have chronic disease processes hampering their efforts. Older people have a little more trouble. You need a chair that will support your back whether you are in the workplace, writing your memoirs from home, reading, resting, or watching television. Your chair should fit you like a glove.
Laura Johannes (Wall Street Journal: Wednesday, September 21, 2011) said that if your back aches while sitting you aren’t sitting straight enough. Her article focused on cushions and other seat devices designed to encourage good posture. Many of us need help maintaining proper posture while sitting. A special cushioning device, in addition to a back health program, might help you sit up straighter. Physical fitness is the best way to keep you mobile, but a good solid piece of furniture also contributes to a state of comfort and well-being.
We all spend a considerable amount of time sitting. A favorite chair is almost a control center; a place from which you keep tabs on the world around you. A favorite chair is an important part of your daily life. The idea of having a perfect chair should not be underestimated.
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