Are you a slouch?
Sit up straight!
How many times did your mother say that to you when you were young? Well, researchers are now saying she was wrong: slouching may actually be better for your back.
Scientists in Scotland scanned the backs of 22 healthy volunteers while they were sitting in various positions. They found that sitting up straight, with back and thighs at a 90 degree angle, puts strain on the spine. They suggest that sitting slightly slouched with the back and the thighs forming a 135 degree angle, was the best position for back health.
These days, most people do their sitting in front of a computer, so maintaining a 135 degree angle while typing may be problematic. But this study shows that maintaining ramrod straight posture in your chair is not the goal. It's more important not to maintain any one position for too long, whatever it is - get up, move around and stretch regularly. Just don't tell mom I said so.
