Can you do research while sitting? Yes, absolutely. Researchers at the Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich in Switzerland have used MRI scans to investigate how the spine reacts to different ways of sitting. They looked at sitting upright and compared it with leaning back in a chair and what these sitting positions do for our spine and overall well-being. The participants were scanned in an advanced upright MRI machine.
Figure 1: MRI-compatible wooden office chair in upright (a) and reclined position (b), together with corresponding MRI images of a person in the study showing how the spine angles depending on the recline.
The conclusion of the study was that more research is needed on sitting positions, but that variety is best for our backs. An ergonomic chair that allows you to both lean back and sit upright is the ultimate solution. The study concluded that because our backs are unique, we need individual chair settings, and that there is no universal angle of inclination that suits everyone.
When you buy a chair from Support Design, you receive a manual on how to adjust your chair to suit your back and body. Tilt the seat to the correct angle and adjust it to the correct height.
But don't forget to vary your sitting positions and take a break to stretch your body every now and then!
Source: Research Article In Vivo Spinal Posture during Upright and Reclined Sitting in an Office Chair
Roland Zemp, William R. Taylor, and Silvio Lorenzetti.
