Say “Kiddy-up” to Good Posture
Back pain is the most prevalent type of pain, according to a study carried out in India. It is also a common problem among computer users, especially women. The study observed that working in a prolonged period of time in an improper work station can cause workers to suffer more discomfort in the lower back and the upper extremities (including neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist and arm) of the body.
In another study, sitting upright or slouched over for 10 minutes strained the erector muscles, which run along the side of the spinal column. It also compressed the interverterbral discs in the lower back, resulting in 20% water loss from the jelly-like central part of the disc, which acts as a ball bearing.
Studies such as Dash & Ghosh (2010) and Bashir (2006), document the usual culprits of back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Yet despite all these, a lot of companies are still not willing to invest in ergonomically-sound work processes and equipment.
Even if the costs and adverse affect on a company’s bottom line have been well documented, some CEOs perceive ergonomics as a costly trend in office furniture.
It’s more than just design trend
That is a misconception that Bambach Saddle Seat hopes to erase. Like most ergonomically-sound office furniture, the saddle seat comes with a premium price.
“Most customers are worried about the price but once they sit on a Bambach saddle seat, they understand right away why it is an investment,” says Joyce Lacey of M & J consultants, Bambach’s distributing arm in Southeast Asia.
The Australian-based company actively promotes a healthier work environment by introducing ergonomically correct office furniture, in this case seats, in the workplace. According to Lacey, most back pains are developed from bad sitting posture. Common office chairs however do not distribute the weight properly.
The British Chiropractic Association says that sitting was known to contribute to lower back pain. About 32% of the population spends more than 10 hours a day seated, and half do not leave their desks. They conclude that the human body is not meant to sit for such prolonged periods of time.
“In conventional seating, the centre of gravity is behind the seat bones with the pelvis rolled back and the lumbar spinal curve flattened, necessitating stressful muscular activity to maintain the upright position for work,” Lacey explains.
The idea of the Bambach saddle seat came to occupational therapist and horsewoman, Mary Gale. She found out that some patients could balance quiet independently on horseback and assume a symmetrical position. It occurred to Gale that if she could replicate the saddle position, where the spine is able to assume its natural curves, she would create an ideal seat for therapy as well as for task seating.
Riding on a pink vinyl leather saddle seat, Lacey demonstrates how the seat makes a total difference to a sitter’s posture, “It is the ideal sitting posture,” she shows off the natural curve of her back. “The hip joints rest in a relaxed open position and the spine is in perfect balance. The unique seat contour ensures you’ll bend forward from your hips, not from your back.”
With a Bambach saddle seat, the user’s hips are well balanced, causing the spine to retain its natural position for hours.
In a related study, the straddle position with knees apart has preventive value against future hip diseases. According to Prof. Dr. G. Schumoe, Orthopaedic University Hospital, Germany, hip abduction ensures that hip joints are in their ideal alignment in their sockets.
Looking at the saddle seat, it has some similarities with a bicycle seat. Asked if bicycle seats give the same effect, Lacey said that the latter provide little support to the mass of the buttocks. “It can be uncomfortable over a long period of time because it doesn’t give enough stability.”
The Bambach saddle seat was originally designed for handicapped children
“Anyone who has spent so much of their time sitting in an office will surely agree with me,” says Lacey. The company’s saddle seats are mostly used by medical practitioners such as dentists and are also ideal for disabled children. It also offers other benefits such as improved breathing and blood flow, enhanced muscle tone and optimised user functionality.
The Bambach saddle seat is available in four seat sizes, various colours and with and with or without backrest. According to Lacey, the seat comes with warranty*and its mechanical features, for instance height adjustor, is made of premium quality material.
*Warranty varies, please check with your local distributor.
Category: Features, Uncategorized
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