Soapbox
Beware The Chair
Wednesday May 19, 2010
What's the most dangerous spot in America? It might just might be your own office chair.
In 2008, the number two reason for seeing
a physician was musculoskeletal symptoms.
Musculoskeletal refers to the system of
muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints,
and associated tissues that move the body and
maintain its form.
We overuse parts of this system all the
time, and other parts not at all. That’s where
the workplace comes in and bites us.
Back problems caused almost 31 million
visits to physician’s offices in 2003. Over 70
million workdays are lost from pain each year,
costing industry more than $100 billion a year
in lost wages and insurance (Medical Data
International, RP-821922, June 1999).
Why is the office or at-home workspace
or classroom the most dangerous place in
America? It’s simple….all we do there is sit!
We spend most of our time working, and most
of that time sitting. It makes us productive but
leaves us hurting. In the last 100 years, we
have “progressed” from a moving society to a
sitting society.
Is this trend going to change? I doubt it,
even if fuel costs double again. Neighborhoods
don’t move and socio-economic patterns aren’t
easily reversed. Sitting is here to stay. But, pain
doesn’t have to be.
But, you can do something about it.
Not your doctor, not some new, miraculous
medication, but you. You are your body’s
expert….you need to be responsible for your
own musculoskeletal health. It can and will
make all the difference in your world.
Be well. Take action now.
Posted at 05:22 PM