How can you guy sit so much as programmer?

[amandaF]

Sometimes, I am concern about the long term effect of sitting all day
long. I used to be on my feet all day long (in the lab) before.I
started studying CIS.

I was okay with sitting long hours when doing programming project for
my courses in school - though I developed shoulder balde pain from my
computer set up at home and had to get massage treatment - but these
days, I am more conscious about the effect on health in sitting long
hours. I don't think our species is made to sit like this. In the long
run, say 10 years from now, I wonder how all these sitting non-stop
would affect us.

What do you people do to compenstate for all those sitting all day
long? Any special stretching exercise?

BTW, I have made my own foot rest - someone from Myofacial groupd
helped me in guiding with the design - and something to put the mouse
by placing it over the number keypad area of the keyboard (on the
keyboard try) so that the mouse would be the exact height I needed,
aligning with the arm resting bar of the chair. Since then no more
shoulder blade pain nor sharp neck pain.

 

[xen]

Sometimes, I am concern about the long term effect of sitting all day
long. I used to be on my feet all day long (in the lab) before.I
started studying CIS.

I was okay with sitting long hours when doing programming project for
my courses in school - though I developed shoulder balde pain from my
computer set up at home and had to get massage treatment - but these
days, I am more conscious about the effect on health in sitting long
hours. I don't think our species is made to sit like this. In the long
run, say 10 years from now, I wonder how all these sitting non-stop
would affect us.

What do you people do to compenstate for all those sitting all day
long? Any special stretching exercise?

BTW, I have made my own foot rest - someone from Myofacial groupd
helped me in guiding with the design - and something to put the mouse
by placing it over the number keypad area of the keyboard (on the
keyboard try) so that the mouse would be the exact height I needed,
aligning with the arm resting bar of the chair. Since then no more
shoulder blade pain nor sharp neck pain.

I've had trouble with my arms (pain in my hands and lower arms) but
I've never actually had trouble with sitting for too long, that I
couldn't fix by just taking a walk or doing something else. And I've
never heard about anyone else who has. It is really insignificant
compared to RSI as a health hazard.

I'd agree with you that sitting all day or even living in boxes is
probably not the most healthy/natural/fulfilling/whatever thing to do.

 

[Hal Rosser]

Sometimes, I am concern about the long term effect of sitting all day
long. I used to be on my feet all day long (in the lab) before.I
started studying CIS.

I was okay with sitting long hours when doing programming project for
my courses in school - though I developed shoulder balde pain from my
computer set up at home and had to get massage treatment - but these
days, I am more conscious about the effect on health in sitting long
What do you people do to compenstate for all those sitting all day
long? Any special stretching exercise?

No one told you??
After you get out of school, most offices have "full-contact Programming
contests" and Mondays are usually "program while standing on your left foot"
day.
We tried using pedal-powered monitors and desk lamps, but it kept going dark
in the office.
Programmers are paid a low wage here because every programmer must have a
massage therapist working on them as they program. The massage therapists
are starting to get fat from underwork, however. We're thinking about hiring
stenographers or typists so the programmers can lie down and dictate their
programs. We need someone to work on a program that can take java dictation.
Where's my fishing pole...

 

[Greg R. Broderick]

What do you people do to compenstate for all those sitting all day
long? Any special stretching exercise?

I don't sit all day -- I make sure to get up every two or three hours and
walk a 'lap' around the building to give my sitting muscles a break and to
slightly exercise and stretch my walking muscles. If I'm particularly
tense, I'll walk a bit further.

Additionally, I've invested my own money in the most comfortable work chair
that I can find -- the Herman Miller Aeron chair, and I have it adjusted so
as to fit my body shape and size perfectly (the chair is extremely
adjustable). This chair leads me into maintaining good posture without
tiring me from maintaining good posture. My back, shoulders, arms and butt
all seem to appreciate this. These chairs aren't cheap by any stretch of
the imagination, but they're extremely durable in addition to being
extremely comfortable. I count this as money well-spent.

Cheers!

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg R. Broderick (e-mail address removed)

A. Top posters.
Q. What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?
---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Andreas Leitgeb]

I was okay with sitting long hours when doing programming project for
my courses in school - though I developed shoulder balde pain from my
computer set up at home and had to get massage treatment -

The one thing about my working place that was most necessary was to
make sure, that the monitor was placed as low as possible.
Before, it was on top of the computer case on the desk, afterwards
it was beside the computer case, and since then all aching necks at
work were past. I don't care about height of keyboard that much.
My elbows are a bit below the height of the desk, so my arms rest on
the (rounded) edge of the desk, so the hands actually "fly" above the
keyboard I use the keyboard much more than the mouse, due to
intensive use of keyboard-shortcuts and non-GUI applications.

Interestingly, my girlfriend, who works in a shop, and hardly ever gets
to sit, has a much higher desire for getting massage-treatment than myself.
So, most likely it's not directly the sitting/standing but other factors.

 

[Roedy Green]

What do you people do to compenstate for all those sitting all day
long? Any special stretching exercise?

one thing that really helps is a rubber inflatable cushion. It is a
slightly squirmy foundation which keeps your back from settling in
exactly the same position all day. It really helps and they are cheap.

see http://mindprod.com/bgloss/chair.html

The other thing I do is bend over backwards on the back of the sofa,
or a log and relax my back. This seems to iron out kinks and makes it
supple again. I have seen gizmos advertised on TV that you but on the
floor and lie on. They don't look as comfortable as what I do.

 

[Roedy Green]

I was okay with sitting long hours when doing programming project for

my courses in school

you might have a look at http://mindprod.com/bgloss/ergonomics.html
and read the essays it links to.

It is amazing how much difference some small changes make.

 

[amandaF]

The one thing about my working place that was most necessary was to
make sure, that the monitor was placed as low as possible.

Before, it was on top of the computer case on the desk,

I never understood those ads for computer desk where the monitor's
sitting on top of the computer case or is placed on the shelf above
the desk surface.

afterwards
it was beside the computer case, and since then all aching necks at
work were past. I don't care about height of keyboard that much.
My elbows are a bit below the height of the desk, so my arms rest on
the (rounded) edge of the desk, so the hands actually "fly" above the
keyboard I use the keyboard much more than the mouse, due to
intensive use of keyboard-shortcuts and non-GUI applications.

Interestingly, my girlfriend, who works in a shop, and hardly ever gets
to sit, has a much higher desire for getting massage-treatment than myself.

That's good to know. I mean, sitting is not that dangerous

So, most likely it's not directly the sitting/standing but other factors.

Shoes issue?

I once bought a pair of boots(bootie or somehting like that; just the
dressy kind) that was like $29.99 and made in China. I noticed that
my lower back hurt and I returned it and they took it back.

Made in China shoes never work for me and I spend good money on my
shoes (made either in Brazil or Italy)

 

[amandaF]

one thing that really helps is a rubber inflatable cushion. It is a
slightly squirmy foundation which keeps your back from settling in
exactly the same position all day.

That's a good idea. That settling in one position is what I don't feel
comfortable with.

It really helps and they are cheap.

seehttp://mindprod.com/bgloss/chair.html

The other thing I do is bend over backwards on the back of the sofa,
or a log and relax my back.

Great tip. The chiropractor - I am going there because of a car
accident (minor) - always tells me to relax. I will do this exercise
to relax my back.

 

[amandaF]

you might have a look athttp://mindprod.com/bgloss/ergonomics.html
and read the essays it links to.

It is amazing how much difference some small changes make.

It truly is amazing. I was ready to spend money for Myofascial Release
therapy forever bt couldn't find atherapist as gooas the one I got in
previous city. I even bought a couple of books to start doing the
strteching exrcise of those muscle as recommneded ina ng and also got
a tennis ball placed in a sock and then pressing it against the wall
on my back as a treatment.

Nedless to say, I was on top of the world when my should blade pain
and those sharp neck pain went a way when I decided to make that
little thing to bring the mouse higher than sitting on the keyborad
tray which I did only after I sucessfully made a footrest. I did that
because I just didn't like any footrest I saw online - the measurement
of height just wouldn't be excatly what I needed, with the guidance
and encourgement of a massage guy in a newgroup who was asking me
every little detail of my computer set up.

I was using a step-exercise board as footrest before (before that, I
just used some cement blocks and placed a shelf over it ehich was nto
stable; this was when I was in school and didn't know much about
ergonomics) but now my footrest is so much better with the right angle
and height for the chair I am using. I made it wide and so when I
turn, my foot can just slide on the footrest as if it's the floor. I
made another one (not as wide) and am palnning to take it to work if
they'd let me.

 

[amandaF]

I don't sit all day -- I make sure to get up every two or three hours and
walk a 'lap' around the building

Around the buidling is a great tip.

to give my sitting muscles a break and to
slightly exercise and stretch my walking muscles. If I'm particularly
tense, I'll walk a bit further.

Additionally, I've invested my own money in the most comfortable work chair
that I can find -- the Herman Miller Aeron chair, and I have it adjusted so
as to fit my body shape and size perfectly (the chair is extremely
adjustable). This chair leads me into maintaining good posture without
tiring me from maintaining good posture. My back, shoulders, arms and butt
all seem to appreciate this. These chairs aren't cheap by any stretch of
the imagination, but they're extremely durable in addition to being
extremely comfortable. I count this as money well-spent.

Definitely. I might get this customized chair at some point.