Add as bookmark

Long Periods of Sitting Took their Toll - Exercise and a New Chair Made the Difference

by Lindsey Venner(more info)

listed in back pain, originally published in issue 214 - May 2014

As the owner of a children’s gym and party business, and previously an accountant, I spent hours sitting at my desk. Over the last few years I noticed that my lower back had become increasingly stiff and thought that a lack of exercise, lifting incorrectly and bad posture had led to the problems. I found relief after my osteopath recommended a different type of office chair.

“Long periods of sitting for work and handling a children’s gym club really took their toll on my back, but the right exercise and a new office chair have got rid of the pain and made me much more mobile.”

Lindsey Venner
Lindsey Venner

But when I began personal training sessions to get fitter the back problems became worse.

“I didn’t know why my back was worse from the exercising as I thought it was supposed to help, but thinking about it I now realize that all the years of sitting on those standard office chairs and slouching constantly as a result had really taken their toll on my back”.

Gillian Brown
Gillian Brown

Then I consulted a local osteopath, Gillian Brown.

“Lindsey’s back problems were a fairly typical and common scenario, with stiffness and locking up. Being around small children, bending down and lifting equipment was also aggravated by long periods of sitting at an office desk. So we agreed to look at an alternative exercise programme and, importantly, have a look at her workstation,” said Gillian.

Gillian introduced Lindsey to the chair that she uses all the time, a Back App, which is a ‘saddle’ seated chair without a back rest and moves around to various degrees via a ball at the base. The movement varies from ‘slight’ through to ‘dynamic’. Unlike a standard chair, which is stable and sets your hips at a 90 degree angle, the Back App seat sets the hips at a larger angle. This means there is less effort on the muscles to hold the body upright, as the spine’s position is similar to when standing. As a result, this is less stressful on the back muscles. It basically improves sitting posture, strengthens the core muscles to help support the spine and improves mobility.

“I have used the Back App chair for a while now and noticed that it ensures you don’t slouch and use the correct muscles when sitting, not like on standard office chairs. It also reduces the compression on the spine which can contribute to disc disease and leaves you feeling much more mobile at the end of the working day,” explained Gillian. And Lindsey, who has now been using the Back App as her office chair for the last few months, said after getting used to it, she would never go back.

“The chair immediately puts you in a better position for sitting. I feel I am more upright, I definitely don’t slouch and the discomfort and pain has gone. I even feel myself sitting differently when I sit on normal chairs now.”

The UK distributor of the chair, Mike Dilke said: “Using the Back App is all about prevention as well as treatment. It can help reduce lower back pain in those already suffering from it, but it can also prevent its development.” And he added that another advantage of using the Back App is that is can also increase alertness and productivity at work.

About Mike Dilke, Relaxback UK and Back App:

Mike came across the Back App Chair when looking at running a business helping people with bad backs, owing to his long-term interest in Yoga. The chair was invented by Norwegian, Freddy Johnsen, who had suffered severe back problems during his life. It is currently manufactured in Sweden. After Mike enquired about the product, he was invited stay with Freddy and following this visit, they agreed to do business together. The Back App is the combination of a chair with an adjustable balancing board. It sets your position, when sitting, in an open hip angle, not at 90 degrees as in a regular chair. This means it’s less effort for the body to hold itself in a good posture and the spine is also resting in its most natural position, so the force between vertebrae is less. The adjustable ball makes the chair wobble and prevents stiffness from sitting ‘too’ still, as well as giving you a low level core workout at the same time.

Further Information

For more information on the Back App contact Mike on Tel: 01727 757221;  mike@relaxbackuk.com  www.relaxbackuk.com

Contact Gillian Brown - Osteopath at Harpenden Injury Clinic on Tel: 01582 764361; Mob: 07969 138607; www.gbosteopathy.co.uk

Comments:

  1. Sue ellis said..

    Hi
    Can you please advise me of the cost of this wonderful chair.
    Thank you.


« Prev Next »

Post Your Comments:

About Lindsey Venner

Lindsey Venner is the owner of TLG Harpenden. Before becoming a franchisee with The Little Gym she worked in London with Ernst & Young as a Senior Manager. The decision to join the network was a tough and very important one. She was invited to spend the day in Brussels at The Little Gym Offices; the team gave her real confidence that these were people that she would enjoy working with, and she could trust to support me as a long term business partner. She opened in April 2009 and already had over 300 trials booked for the opening week. She worked out how she could create the best gym, which she did by taking the best bits from the other gyms in the network and bringing them to TLG.

What makes her most proud is the team she has built how much it means to them to be part of this amazing project. In February 2012 she felt the gym had reached a point of maturity that allowed her to take a step back from the business. She put a Gym Director at the helm, comes in on a Friday morning to teach one class, and a Wednesday to stay in touch with the team. She spends the rest of the time with her family, and dreaming of what she will do next! Lindsey Venner may be contacted on Tel: 01582 712423 www.TheLittlegym.co.uk 

  • FLEXXICORE EXERCISErs

    The FLEXXICORE exercise revolution: transform your fitness regime with 2 exhilarating exercisers

    www.FlexxiCore.com

  • health & fitness books

    Massage, sports injury, holistic, healthcare and specialists books written by leaders in their field

    www.lotuspublishing.co.uk

top of the page