Well hello there, Mr. Executive of the big important company. How has your back been feeling lately? I bet your chiropractor says your aches are due to your age (and I bet you keep going back to your chiropractor for regularly scheduled visits... am I right?). While age might have a little something to do with your back pain, chances are, your body's natural process is not the culprit. Now that I've got your attention, wouldn't you like to know who or what you can blame for the backaches that take more than just your weekend to recover from?



Stand up. Turn around. Now look down. What do you see? That's right my friend; it's your big, black, cushy, leather desk chair that you've been conducting all your business in since 1992. Drop all emotional attachments. It is high time for a new desk chair.

Back support throughout the day is extremely important because sitting in a comfortable and upright position enforces alertness - you want your back to feel secure and your body to be relaxed while you're working, but you don't want to feel so comfortable that you find yourself falling asleep. It has been shown that a sturdy desk chair which will keep your spine aligned throughout the day will not only help your back feel better but will also promote a higher level of concentration and endurance during the workday.

Poor body mechanics are the cause of a majority of back problems. When shopping for a new desk chair, look for a piece of furniture that makes you feel like you're sitting properly and not just comfortably; usually an ergonomically designed chair will promote good posture with overall comfort in mind. I know what you're thinking - "Ergo... what?" Ergonomics is the application of science when designing objects for human use, such as desk chairs. Therefore, an ergonomically designed desk chair has the main purpose of making your time spent in that chair more effective. Nowadays, it isn't rare to find an entire office filled with the newest type of ergonomically designed desk chair in order to promote productivity and work output throughout that office.

When shopping for a new desk chair, be prepared to invest. Now that you understand that your back health is dependant on the style and quality of chair you purchase, it is easier to invest in something worthwhile. Consider the following guidelines when purchasing a new desk chair:

* If the chair is too comfortable then you'll probably fall asleep in it. Go with a comfort that won't rock you to sleep like a baby.

* If the chair description contains the phrase "ergonomically designed" then it usually will fulfill both your posture and your comfort needs.

* The chair must be able to provide your back with both lumbar and pelvic support. Something you might want to look for is an adjustable lumbar cushion that you can change to meet your daily needs.

* Does the chair have armrests? If so, are they the right height for your arm weight to rest comfortably on them, or are they adjustable to meet the height of your elbows?

Once you have found a sturdy chair that meets all of your needs and is designed to make your days more productive and your nights backache-free, you will find positive results almost instantly. Once last suggestion is to make sure that you invest in a desk chair of high quality to ensure a lasting item that will not only match your office decor and hopefully satisfy your budget, but will also provide a constant source of strength and support for your spine for years to come.