Perching Polly
This posture is commonly seen in women!
The back is not supported. Therefore, the back muscles have to work hard for long periods.
It may be because the arms on your chair prevent it from fitting under the desk. Sometimes it is possible to remove or change the position of these arms. It may also be a sign that the computer is too far away or your eyesight is not good.
Low rider
A tad too casual, low rider is so low his chin is practically on the table!
The decade of the noughties has seen a massive surge in the number of people working with laptops. The lowest of the low riders you will see in a similar position in their bed.
In this posture, the nervous system is placed on a sustained stretch, so there will be a reduction in circulation to some of the nerves. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you get some pins and needles or numbness in your legs or feet.
The spine is also very unsupported in this position so there is increased pressure on the discs of the spine and where the back is in contact with the chair.
The Hunchback
A very common posture! Especially towards the end of the day....
If done too much, this can leave ‘The Hunchback’ with a hunched posture, making them look a little old before their time.
It puts pressure and tension on the spine and nervous system, particularly the upper part and neck. If the joints, muscles and/ or nerves in the neck are affected, this can also often result in pain in the arm. Neck and arm pain are the most commonly experienced pains by people that use computers.
Leaning Lionel
This occurs when people read documents to the left or right of their keyboard. A poorly thought out arrangement of the desk can lead to persistent resting to one side. This causes asymmetric pressures on the body and may lead to increased pain. Resting on your hand for long periods may place your nerves on a sustained stretch and lead to tingling in the hand.
The Giraffe
A position often seen in those concentrating intently on their work. Needing to have your head close to the computer screen can also be a sign of bad eyesight.
You can see there is very little support for the spine. The upper part of 'The Giraffe''s neck is placed in an extended position. This compresses some of the joints in the upper neck. Many of the supporting muscles around the neck need to work very hard to maintain this position. This can lead to areas of tension and knots around the shoulders and neck.