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Working in a Sitting Position - What to Avoid while Sitting

Why is body position or posture important while sitting? Poor arrangement of the workstation encourages an awkward body position.

context Poor arrangement of the workstation encourages an awkward body position. A poor body position or posture can hinder blood circulation, affect the nervous system, and contribute to injuries and illnesses

requirement Tilting the head forward to prevent neck injury
requirement Sitting without lumbar support to prevent back pain
requirement Working with arms raised to prevent neck and shoulder pain
requirement Bending wrists to prevent wrist pain and muscle cramps
requirement Working with unsupported forearms to prevent shoulder and back pain
requirement Lifting or dropping the shoulders
requirement Keeping elbows far from the body
requirement Frequently reaching for things (especially when bending or twisting of the back is necessary)
requirement Cramming thighs under a worktable will affect blood circulation.
requirement Sitting on a chair that has poor support for your body or stability
requirement Rounding the back (slouching)
requirement Excessively arching the lower back
requirement Leaning forward without supporting bodyweight
requirement Reclining the chair’s backrest at an angle greater than 30°
requirement Dangling feet

context It puts pressure on your thighs which reduces the flow of blood and can cause varicose veins and swelling in the legs and ankles
context It puts pressure on the sciatic nerve causing pain or discomfort

context It causes bending of the wrists to reach the worktable, or resting the wrists on the edge which result in damage to tissues and pain
context It prevents use of proper lumbar support and can cause back injury
context It makes it necessary to lift the shoulders, causing pain
context It tires the whole body

context It causes excessive rounding and bending of the back to reach the worktable, leading to back pain
context Bending of the wrists may occur when working on the table (e.g., typing on a keyboard), causing wrist pain
context Supporting the weight of the upper body causes fatigue
context Fact sheet confirmed current: 2022-09-28