Do Cushions Help with Posture?
Something that I’ve seen circulating on the internet is “do cushions help with posture?” and there’s an array of different answers. Needless to say, the concept of applying a cushion seems like it’ll help promote better posture, but does it actually help?
Cushions can help with posture, but not any old pillow from your bed or couch. Instead, you’ll need to opt-in for an ergonomic seat cushion if you want to really improve your posture while seating. From using this, over time, you’ll see an improvement in your posture and also a reduced number of aches that occur in your lower back.
Seat cushions can help improve your posture, but it’s important they’re the right type of cushion. Wanting to know more about why you should use seat cushions? Read on for an explanation!
What Are the Different Types of Cushions That Help Posture?
When it comes to ergonomic seating cushions, there are two primary options that you can select from. These are the below:
- Tailbone and pelvis – The most common type of seating cushion that provides an array of different benefits is the tailbone and pelvis one. This cushion goes underneath your buttocks to support both your tail bone and pelvis. By sitting on this, you’ll notice much less pain in that targeted area, along with posture correction and various other benefits (mentioned below).
- Lumbar support – Another ergonomic seating cushion you can acquire is to support your lumbar. The lumbar is your lower back, and anyone experiencing pain in this area can receive an astronomical number of benefits. A lumbar support cushion doesn’t just hold your lower back into place to eliminate pain, it also allows your hips to stay in place and reduce the chances of slumping. Including these benefits, you’ll also find that your posture will become better over time while using a lumbar support cushion.
The good thing about ergonomic seating cushions is that they come in various styles to target specific body areas. Both the tailbone/pelvis and lumbar support seating cushions are great, and people have seemed tremendous results from implementing them within their daily lives.
Don’t believe me? Check out the benefits you’re able to receive when using an ergonomic seating cushion.
The Benefits of Using Seat Cushions for Correcting Posture
Now you understand that ergonomic seat cushions can help aid posture, I’m sure you’re eager to develop knowledge about the benefits you can obtain while using one. You’ll be surprised that the advantages are almost endless and something that most daily chair-sitters can benefit from. Here are some benefits you’re able to gain while using an ergonomic seat cushion.
Better Posture
The ergonomic seat cushion was specially designed to improve a user’s posture, and it does this superbly. This doesn’t just correct your posture temporarily, but you’ll find that it naturally changes your posture over time into something much more sustainable and pain-free.
Having a good posture makes you much less prone to the neck, shoulder, back, and hip pain. From this, you’ll be able to concentrate a lot more while sitting, be more comfortable, and most importantly, be happy because you’re not in pain.
Needless to say, this isn’t just the only thing you should implement into your life to enhance your posture, and you should think about various exercises or stretching routines.
Decreased Bone Compression
As a result of better posture, the bones that are primarily used to stabilize your body while sitting on a chair will experience much less compression. This is excellent as most chairs aren’t designed to release the pressure off your hips, coccyx, and tailbone, leading to extreme pain or fatigue.
Including the above, the more your joints and bones compress, the more likely you’ll experience joint issues. Encountering this has a knock-on-like effect, as it can make you much less mobile, meaning your quality of life is dramatically decreased.
Improved Blood and Oxygen Circulation
Believe it or not, some chairs you sit in reduce blood and oxygen circulation to your muscles. The areas that are targeted are your pelvis, legs, and back. However, you can become much less fatigued from experiencing better blood and oxygen circulation, which you can obtain from an ergonomic seat cushion.
Easier Digestion
Not just blood and oxygen will gain better circulation, but also your digestive system also. This is because you’re not compressing your pelvis and abdomen as much, allowing you to digest your food much easier than if you weren’t sitting on an ergonomic cushion. It can also reduce the possibility of you receiving any long-term digestion issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
More Comfort
Additionally, to the above benefits of using an ergonomic cushion while seating, you’ll also be more comfortable while sitting. Everyone loves comfort, and considering increased comfort can improve your posture as well – there’s a multitude of reasons why you should invest in an ergonomic cushion for your office chair.
Enhanced Energy
Because everything is circulating better, you’re receiving less pain, and your posture is better. This makes you ultimately feel a lot more comfortable, resulting in you not fidgeting anymore. We all need daily to increase energy, so why not enhance it with a cushion? This doesn’t only include more energy during the work period either, you’ll also experience more energy within your daily activities.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, you’re able to obtain an array of different benefits if you were to opt-in for an ergonomic seat cushion. From posture correction to better energy, the money spend investing in this type of cushion is more than worth the reward.
After reading the above, you should now be knowledgeable on the question “do cushions help with posture?”. Yes, they do. But, only ergonomic cushions are specially designed to help aid posture. Using any old cushion around the house wouldn’t be a good idea because they’ll off-balance your body weight, making your lower back and hips work overtime to keep you straight.
Sources
- Li, Wenhua, et al. “The effects of the seat cushion contour and the sitting posture on surface pressure distribution and comfort during seated work.” International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 33.5 (2020): 675-689.
- Callam, M.J., Haiart, D., Farouk, M., Brown, D., Prescott, R.J. and Ruckley, C.V., 1991. Effect of time and posture on pressure profiles obtained by three different types of compression. Phlebology, 6(2), pp.79-84.
- Ng, I., Lim, J. and Wong, H.B., 2004. Effects of head posture on cerebral hemodynamics: its influences on intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and cerebral oxygenation. Neurosurgery, 54(3), pp.593-598.
- Jacob, A.G., 1913. Posture. American Physical Education Review, 18(1), pp.6-9.
