Getting yourself an Ergonomic chair is one of the best things you can do for your back, especially if you have to sit the better part of the day. In fact, I bought the Ergonomic Chair I am using in my office from a Chiropractor who manufacturers them.

But how much do you think an Ergonomic Chair will help if you have some underlying problem?

Will it make your back pain disappear? I don’t think so, despite what the most convincing Ergonomic Chair sales person in the world may tell you.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe in ergonomic chairs and the countless benefits they offer. But in some cases your chair or bad sitting posture is not the reason for your back pain.Sometimes there are other reasons.

This brings me to the point I want to discuss with you. I recently read a book called the 7 Day Back Pain Cure by Jesse Cannone. In the book the author explains in plain English the various possible causes of back pain.

One of the possible causes that immediately caught my attention was muscle imbalances.

Why? The funny thing is that it has nothing to do with back pain. Let’s rewind a few years. I used to do athletics at school and suffered from a niggling injury that would make its unwelcome appearance just as I was getting into top form. It was really frustrating to spend hours training and then to get blocked by the injury. Then one day, a top senior athlete visited our school and discussed with us the importance of weight training and muscles that are in balance.  After that visit I increased my weight training and also trained all the muscles in my legs. Before I would mostly train the front part of the legs as they were stronger and I guess easier to train.

What happened?  For a start my performance drastically improved. And yes, that was the end of the niggling injury. It never appeared again. Never. Since that day I do not underestimate the importance of muscles that are in balance.

Now let’s get back to the book.

I like it a lot. For a start, I received it for free. Actually not free, I had to pay the postage. But I can live with that.

Various possible causes of back pain are discussed. It includes the obvious causes like physical problems, but also the less obvious causes like the mind and even your diet. And most importantly, the book tells you what to do about it. There are pain relief plans for lower, upper and neck pain, herniated discs, sciatica, scoliosis, spinal stenosis and sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Does it work? I cannot guarantee that it will work for you. But countless people have reported amazing results.

Go and visit their website and have a look for yourself. The book is on the house (theirs not mine) so you have nothing to lose (except your back pain). You can get the book here.

Just think about that question for a moment.

First, what does it say to a visitor?

Would you like a new visitor (it may be an important potential client) to walk into your reception area and see your receptionist sit in a chair that belongs in the chair graveyard?  And would it create a good impression if that person has to sit on an uncomfortable chair while they wait for you?

I am sure I don’t have to answer those questions for you.

Even if the rest of your company is full of cheap, ugly and dirty looking chairs, make sure your reception area has good, comfortable chairs that create a good impression to visitors. It goes without saying that the next place that should have good chairs is where you meet people, whether it is your boardroom or your own office.    

Second what does it say to the employee?

I know, I know, the employees should be glad they have chairs and they don’t have to sit on the floor.

But all jokes aside.

If an employee work in a friendly, enjoyable and comfortable environment their productivity increases and they are less likely to leave your employ.

A good ergonomic office chair is one piece of equipment that can (and will) contribute to the happiness and productivity of your employees. As people, we were simply not created to sit the whole day. It put pressure on our spines, affects our circulation and leads to muscle soreness.

This in turn can lead to back pain, a stiff neck and a sore butt. A headache is also not out of the question. And our natural reaction is to move away from pain. Right? So if your employees sit in discomfort, guess what. You guessed it. More walking around and staying away from work. Interesting to note is that back pain is one of the main contributors to work absenteeism.

As an employer an office chair will not make you money, but it can affect your bottom line indirectly by increasing the productivity and happiness of your employees. Your workers will also feel more appreciated if they sit in a decent looking and comfortable chair.

The good news is that you don’t have to buy your employees an Aeron; there are many other chairs on the market that will do a good job.