If you have a profession where you are forced, as I am, to sit at a computer for eight-plus hours per day, the muscles of your lower back, upper back and neck, both knee joints weaken over time. The condition of losing muscle mass and strength from the non-use of a muscle group is called atrophy.
The first way to suspect that you may be developing a back problem due to sitting, even before you experience any pain, is to lack proper posture when sitting or standing. If you are noticeably hunched over it is probably due to weak back muscles. If your back muscles are strong and healthy, you will naturally and comfortably sit up straight. You will not need a lumbar support or ergonomic chair. Your strong back muscles will not only support your torso but also provide the support your spinal column needs for the proper spacing of your spine’s discs.
