Please note that I have no relationship with the products or services I describe here. I developed this site partly to encourage me to put more effort into fixing my own back, but also to inspire others to go take control of their own back care.

Hopefully you may find some of the ideas here useful, and maybe can discuss them with your doctor.

If you find mylowerbackpain.com useful, please add a link to it from your website or blog.

Thanks, Steve.

Laptop stands

by Trevor Gates
(UK)

Laptop stands elevate the laptop screen so that you can sit back in your chair and assume an upright posture instead of slouching when you are working. You simply add an external keyboard and mouse and hey presto you are sitting just the way your mum always told you to!

Plenty to choose from at www.laptopstands.co.uk

Steve's comments:

I do use a laptop stand at work (and I've used one for years). They certainly do help with posture, but you do need to make sure that you have a separate keyboard and mouse. (But that's not a bad thing as it means you can have a decent keyboard and mouse rather than relying on the laptop.)

PostureMinder - award-winning intelligent posture reminder software

If you use a computer and suffer from back, neck or shoulder pain, or even RSI, eye fatigue or headaches, then PostureMinder is for you.

Even if you don't currently suffer from any of the above, but are concerned about how you or your children sit at a computer, or the possibility of developing painful, potentially career-limiting problems in future, then it also acts as a great preventative tool.

PostureMinder uses any webcam together with advanced image processing techniques to continually check how you are sitting. Whenever you sit in a damaging posture for an extended period, an on-screen reminder encourages you to improve how you're sitting. By providing reminders precisely when you need them, PostureMinder helps reduce the time you spend in damaging postures, and reinforces better posture habits.

PostureMinder also features other tools for healthy computer use, such as break reminders, video-guided stretch exercises and comprehensive ergonomic advice. All features are completely customisable to suit your needs and computer usage.

Most computer workers receive some form of ergonomic training. Problem is, the next day, how many of us give it a second thought? Also, who's training your children to prevent them developing deeply ingrained bad posture habits in the first place?

PostureMinder is the only solution to intelligently promote good posture and healthy computer habits, all day, every day.

PostureMinder Business Edition won a 2007 British Safety Industry Federation Innovation Award, and is currently in use by some the world's best known corporations, whilst PostureMinder Home Edition is ideal for home computer users of all ages, and starts from just £29.99.

Visit www.PostureMinder.co.uk for more information and to buy online for yourself, your family or your employees.

Kneelsit The Chair for Life

by Greg Usher
(Kiama Australia)

Research has shown that two of the major causes of back pain among workers who have to sit for long periods are:-
1. Lack of body movement and
2. High compression loadings on your spinal discs.

The Kneelsit balance chair has been specially designed to address these problems. Influenced by the Masaai camp stool from Africa, the Kneelsit has been carefully developed over fifteen years to promote good posture, balance and spinal health. This has been achieved through a unique design combination of our patented, swivel-axle seat and kneeler and a forward-sloping seat.

The seat and shin cushion have a range of settings to suit individual thigh lengths. You adjust the cushions to discover your own natural balance, then your spine will automatically take up correct alignment without conscious effort on your part.

The action of the seat and shin cushion axles provide small, subtle movements of the body, helping to activate and "re-educate" the receptors of your muscles, joints and tendons so awakening latent postural awareness.

The Kneelsit also incorporates an adjustable spring under the seat which encourage a gentle rocking movement.

All of these movements help to stimulate the balance mechanism of your inner ear, leading to an enhanced sensitivity of your vestibular apparatus, thus a gradual improvement in your balance sense, your ability to concentrate and your general level of alertness. But most important they combine together to provide you with a truly comfortable sitting experience. Further benefits of movement are continuous nourishment to the cells of your spinal discs and regular light exercise to your back, thigh and stomach muscles.

Here's the site: www.kneelsit.com

FHP Cushion at www.fhpproducts.com

by Chris Geisert
(Ada, MI)

The FHP Cushion was designed to improve your posture by reducing your forward head posture, stretching the chest region and allowing the back tissues to relax.

When the body is in correct anatomical position, the muscles and tissues go back to their original state, reducing the tension and back pain many people feel.

Forward head posture places major strain on the upper body and by fixing the forward head, the back pain will be greatly reduced.

You can find the FHP Cushion at www.fhpproducts.com.

FHP Products offers products that reduce forward head posture which reduces back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain.

FHP Products offers a learning center where you can learn all about how posture affects your body from respiratory issues, computer posture, how to improve your posture in the shower or doing the dishes along with articles about forward head posture, the major contributor to back pain.

Pedic Pad

by David Pulver
(Goleta, CA USA)

The Tip Pedic pad is a ergonomic designed donut cushion that provides lower extremity pain relief through spinal flotation.

The cushion separates in half creating balance and exercise therapy pads. Made of heavy duty durgon fabric and quality high resilience foam. This pad along with all our Tip Pedic brand products can be viewed at tippedic.com.