Prolonged poor sitting posture causes certain muscles to become tight and dominant, restricting range of movement and causing pain
postural types
If we spend long hours sitting in one position, we will stand in that position too. This can cause consistent overload to certain joints, leading to pain and stiffness
Over time, this posture becomes fixed as our muscles and ligaments adapt to their habitual resting length and limit range of movement
activities
The gradual buildup of joint and muscle stiffness affects our leisure and sporting activities too
Sitting poorly causes your hips flexors to tighten restricting stride length and making running slower and more inefficient
Sitting long hours in sustained poor postures at work causes certain muscles and joints to stiffen. This will affect yoga practice as the body will then “cheat” to achieve certain postures, leading to injury
Sitting slumped causes your upper back to stiffen and your chest and neck muscles to tighten. this restricts overhead reach and can cause shoulder impingement
Sitting slumped at work makes your mid-back stiff, reducing your golf swing and causing overload to your lower back and shoulder
A build up of joint and muscle stiffness affects bending and lifting when gardening. With some joints restricted, others compensate by moving more. This adversely loads the joints and muscles causing pain and injury over time
Sitting slumped compresses the stomach and diaphragm (main breathing muscle) adversely affecting digestion and breathing patterns
the ephgrave chair
The moulded back cushion supports your spine in line with gravity. Joints are well-aligned and muscles can relax, so your body can move more easily
Improves efficient movement – better sporting performance
By supporting the spine in a balanced upright position, muscle tension is reduced and joint load is centralized. There is no build-up of muscle tightness or joint stiffness so movement remains free and energy efficient – sporting performance is improved.
Improves breathing and digestion
The ephgrave chair prevents the collapse of the spine and ribcage that occurs in poorly supported sitting. The abdomen is not compressed and breathing and digestion are improved.
Improves posture and flexibility
There is no adaptive shortening or lengthening of the muscles as the resting position of each joint is aligned, and the full range of movement is preserved.
For those who have developed back issues through previous poor sitting habits, the chair can help to reverse any joint immobility by providing gentle extension pressure to the stiffest joint via the back cushion. As the spine is balanced, muscle strain/tension is reduced. Any muscle imbalances that have developed can therefore be slowly improved, so freeing the body to move with more efficiency and less pain.
Eliminates muscle tension and fatigue
As the body is supported in line with gravity, the muscles do not have to work hard to hold the ribcage and head upright; the joints are balanced with the load centralized . There is therefore no build up of tension or fatigue.
Reduces joint pain and stiffness
With the keystone vertebra supported, the spine is aligned with gravity and body weight is centralized. No joint is overloaded in a poor position and there is therefore no pain or stiffness.