(2 minute read)
The importance of good sitting posture cannot be under-estimated. I see this daily with the treatment of neck and shoulder pain for patients in Bristol at my Henleaze clinic.
During my 29 years as an osteopath in Bristol, I’ve seen thousands of patients struggling with neck and shoulder pain. The vast majority of these are related to poor sitting posture.
Most of this physical suffering and subsequent expense in getting it sorted can be prevented and avoided in the first place with correct sitting posture in a proper chair.
The chair industry (particularly the office chair sector) is guilty of serving us poorly when it comes to providing customers in Bristol with chairs that improve their sitting posture.
According to statistics, the UK office furniture market was worth nearly £4 billion in 2024.
I believe that every chair sold in Bristol should provide the very best sitting posture.
Chairs and posture
Poorly-designed chairs create bad posture, which leads to pain, stiffness and poor productivity. Neck and shoulder pain can lead to discomfort and disablement.
A poor, slumped sitting position, coupled with a sub-optimal desk and screen set-up, will cause neck and shoulder strain. This can also lead to other back-related problems.
Poor posture repeated for hours at a time can create chronic neck and shoulder pain.
It is estimated that nearly one million people in the UK are unable to work due to neck and back pain.
Treating neck and shoulder pain
As a Bristol osteopath, I identify and diagnose the causes of neck and shoulder pain. I then provide effective osteopathic treatment to help each patient recover.
Prevention is the key when it comes to neck and shoulder pain, particularly when linked to poor sitting posture.
I arm my patients with knowledge and bespoke exercises to help them improve their sitting position and move better throughout the day.
Frequent movement is vital, such as practising micro-breaks every 20 minutes - find out more here.
How to prevent neck and shoulder pain
Neck and shoulder pain are often easily remedied, especially if they are posture-related, but why suffer in the first place if one can take easy steps to prevent it?
That's why I sought to design a simple solution, called the Z Chair. It naturally and easily promotes good sitting posture and helps to eliminate shoulder and neck pain.
The Z Chair helps people to have healthier working days at home and in the office. To find out more, please visit here.
To book a consultation at my osteopathic clinic in Henleaze, please visit here.