INTRODUCTION:

It was Ancient Egypt, almost five thousand years ago. One of the greatest inventions of our time was created there. It has even been described as one of the ancient wonders of the world. People still wonder how such an ancient civilization made such a structure.

I’m talking about the chair, one of the most enduring inventions of our time. Everyone uses a chair. We are even writing this very post on a chair. But have we ever considered

why we use it?

I mean, it has been around forever, but maybe it’s time to replace the humble chair.

Now you’re asking, what’s so bad about the chair? And honestly, you’re right! The chair is super useful. So that’s what we will tell you, all the pros and cons of having a chair.

PROS OF USING CHAIRS

Chairs help improve your back posture because, over extended periods of time, your back gets straightened. Your back is prone to getting weaker over the years. After you are 50, you lose 1-3% of your bone mass every year. That’s why your parents/ grandparents might have back problems.

Another advantage is productivity. There are studies (Sources below) showing a 17.7% increase in productivity and a 15% increase in performance when using a chair.

Also, chairs have been through five thousand years of evolution. They got more cushiony. They can fold. Some can spin. Clearly, they have grown a lot and are some of the most viable things to sit on. But there are cons, too.

CONS OF USING CHAIRS

3.2 million deaths every year are caused by low physical activity, aka sedentary behavior. One of the main contributors to sedentary behavior is sitting down, and most people sit down in chairs. Chairs make it more appealing to sit than sitting down on the floor. In fact, people are 20x more likely to sit down on a chair if it's within 3 feet of them.

This behavior of sitting down or not doing exercise may not kill you but your body will start to hurt. Studies show that around 50% of surveyed office workers who sat for around 6.29 hours experienced neck, lower back, and shoulder pain. This can also tire you, with 74% of office workers surveyed experiencing exhaustion due to their long sitting time.

Another example of chairs affecting the public was in 2021-2022, when 473,000 UK workers suffered from musculoskeletal conditions due to oversitting in low-quality chairs. This led to 6.6 million workdays being lost.

Your workdays could go away, and even cut into your vacation day

The horror, as if that weren’t bad enough, you have to pay the medical bills. That’s approximately $5,000 on average for a program just for serious back pain.

Finally, for the final blow, for every 2 hours increment you sit, your chances of getting obesity and diabetes increase by 5% and 7%, respectively. That’s crazy!

ALTERNATIVES TO CHAIRS

So, you want to give up chairs… You’re worried about your medical bills and your posture. Well, we've got your back. (Hahahahaha. Get it…)

The best alternative:

Standing is the best alternative to sitting.

1. You burn around 2 times calories compared to sitting.

2. Standing for 3 hours after a meal reduced the blood sugar spiking by up to 43% compared to sitting.

3. Reduces the chances of getting heart disease and back pain.

4. Increase energy and productivity.

Now, for the people who can’t give up chairs. I understand. Leaving something you used to do every day and that comforted you during your moments of exhaustion can be difficult.

That’s why ergonomic chairs are the second-best option. They are comfortable and ensure proper posture while sitting.

However, sitting for 2 hours can still increase your risk for obesity and diabetes by 5% and 7%, respectively.

These ergonomic chairs also hurt your wallet. They tend to think that’s pricy, but as they say, 'ergonomic chairs are not cheap.” I’m joking. No one says that.

“What if I am super broke and I don’t want to stand?” asks you, the dear reader. That’s a great question! Many cultures, such as the Japanese, kneel when they eat and sit. Having this and always sitting straight decreases back pain. Obviously, it’ll take getting used to, but it does end up being cheaper than ergonomic chairs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chairs have their benefits and cons. Chairs can help with your posture if they are ergonomic, or can ruin it. You can choose between getting a chair for yourself. If you want to get a chair, I strongly recommend ergonomic chairs. I hope you and your back stay strong and free of pain. And maybe, you’ll be rethinking your entire furniture set-up after this. Please comment if you think chairs are worth it or not! To learn more, check our sources below!

By Shaunak Guduru and Veer Garg