“Sitting is the new smoking” is quoted day in day out in the media. Research continues to be published documenting all the detrimental effects of sitting on the job including increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even cancer.
I’m constantly talking and demonstrating to my patients on how to sit correctly and how to use the features of their ergonomic desk chair correctly. The problem is that sitting is static and even the most expensive ergonomic desk chairs keep you locked in one position. No matter how you slice it or dice it sitting is detrimental to our health and until now there has not been much you can do about it. Standing desks are popular, but standing in one place all day is not good for you either. Life is motion and the more you move, the healthier you will be.
The future sitting has finally arrived. It is a concept called active sitting. I saw an ad a few months ago in a chiropractic trade magazine for a revolutionary new chair. I thought it was an exciting concept but I did not want to take a chance of buying a chair online without first having the opportunity to sit on it. After looking at the website, reading and watching a few videos I was hooked. I noticed the chair was made in Burlington Vermont, where I used to live. I knew I’d be back for a visit soon. Three weekends ago I went to Burlington. The night before I call the 800 number left a message and got an immediate call back from Turner Osler, M.D. the inventor, founder and owner of the company. I asked if I could visit the showroom. He said they don’t have an official showroom yet but he’d be happy to show me their workspace and allow me to demo the chairs.
Dr. Osler and I met, hit it off and spent a long time discussing our mutual passion for ergonomics, body mechanics and health. The company is called QOR360 and they have several models of chairs. These chairs have a unique patented seat rocker that keeps you moving, engages your core and puts you in good posture with your head over your shoulders and a lumbar lordosis. I was sold! I truly believe that this has the potential of being the future of sitting. It’s tough to change human behavior and habits, but if you could put your butt in these chairs, and give it a chance it will sell itself, especially those of you who sit in front of a computer all day.
I came home with two chairs, choosing Ariel the which is model designed to be an office chair. One I am sitting on right now in my home office and other is in the reception room at Performance Health Center so my patients can experience this unique chair. Monday morning I showed the chair to Linda, my receptionist, so she could explain to our patients about the chair and encourage them to try it. Linda sat down and declared that the chair “is mine”. I have since gotten a third chair so that Linda can actively sit all day and have a chair for patients to try in the reception area. The response has been enthusiastic!
If you are sick and tired of sitting in an office chair that hurts your back, keeps you immobile and compromises your health, I encourage you try out the chair in our reception area. Performance Health Center is the only location in greater Boston where you can experience the future of sitting!
What is it like? If you have ever sat on an exercise ball it is a similar concept. The problem with using exercise balls as desk chairs is that they are large and bulky, it is easy to you fall off them, they puncture and in order to move your pelvis the whole ball moves moving you away from your computer. With a QOR360 chair just the seat moves. It forces the activation of your core muscles and encourages good posture with your head over your shoulder. It is on a stable platform so there is no danger of your falling off and getting hurt. It allows you to sit in front of your computer but your muscles stay active and engaged.
Sitting on the a QOR360 chair takes a little getting used to. You can’t just sit down for five seconds and experience it. It is recommended that you sit for at least minute or two and feel how your body reacts. It forces you sit on one your “sit bones”(or ischial tuberosities to be anatomically correct). My “sit bones” were a little sore after my first prolonged sitting session. I give Dr. Osler this feedback and he responded saying that is typical, and it does take a little getting used to it because you’re not used to sitting on your sit bones. If the seat cushion was softer you would not be able to find your sit bones. He was true to his word and now I can set for extended periods with no soreness. Still you should always get up and take breaks when sitting even with active sitting, at least every 15-20 minutes, even if just for a 30 seconds of full body motion.
If you can’t get to Natick, MA, to sit on the QOR360 chair, know that it comes with a 30 day money-back guarantee. The QOR360 chair can only be bought on-line. If you use the Code PHC at check-out you will get a 5% discount.
Sorry if this blog sounds like a sales pitch, but after 34 years in practice helping people in pain caused by sitting all day this is the best solution I have found. It really believe the QOR360 chair is the future of sitting. Like all paradigm shifts, it is going to take little time to gain traction. If sitting on the chair in my reception room for a few minutes is not enough to convince you that this is the chair you should be sitting on at work, I’ll let you take one back to the office for up to a day so you can give it a good test drive. Of course, your co-workers will be curious and hopefully you’ll share and let them try it as well. Please call in advance at 508-655-9008 to make sure our loaner chair is available.
For more information please email me at [email protected]. Of course check out the QOR360 website. Please visit us at Performance Health Center in Natick if you want to experience the future of sitting. Lastly, if you are going to purchase remember to use the code PHC to get your 5% discount.
QOR360.com for more information.