HOW TO USE
SQUISHY SUPPORTS
Squishy
Supports may be used to improve lying
and sitting positions.
Sleep and
relaxation
Normal
sleep contains two phases, orthodox and
dreaming sleep. Under normal
circumstances, there are five periods of
orthodox sleep of equal length,
interspersed with five periods of
dreaming sleep, which become
progressively longer. During dreaming
sleep the body relaxes totally and if
the neck back and lower limbs are not
properly supported, the various joints
of the body can become strained and
painful. In addition, during the course
of an average nights sleep, it is normal
to change position up to fifty times.
Those who suffer from problems with
their neck, back or lower limbs, may
turn into a position which triggers pain
and this can result in further loss of
sleep.
There are
two basic sleeping positions, lying on
the back and lying on the side. Our
Supports, if used
correctly, can assist in achieving a
good position, thus easing stress and
strain.
SITTING
Due to
advances in technology we have tended to
become a nation of sitters rather than a
nation of ‘standers’ and walkers. Just
add up how many hours a day you spend
sitting in front of a computer,
television or in a car, on a train or
aeroplane. You may be surprised. As a
general rule try to avoid sitting for
too periods at a time, get up and move
around every so often. Many of you will
have discovered that sitting incorrectly
in chairs, possibly because they are
badly designed, can result in pain in
the neck, back and hips. Sometimes the
pain does not come on until some time
later.
Many of us
do not give a thought to how we sit
down, we just grab the nearest chair and
dump ourselves in it, expecting our
bodies to adapt to it. The way we sit is
often influenced by the furniture we are
using and also how we feel. The ideal
seated posture is one in which you are
able to relax or work, without any
perception of strain, discomfort or
fatigue. When properly seated your body
segments should be supported in such a
way that muscular activity is kept to a
minimum and the ligaments and muscles
are not placed under unnecessary
tension.
There are
two basic sitting positions, from which
all other seating positions are derived.
They are sitting upright and sitting
relaxed.
THE RELAXED
SEATED POSITION
When we
settle down in our favourite armchair,
we tend to slump into it. This results
in the pelvis being rotated backwards,
which in turn produces a rounding of the
lower back. With certain back
conditions, particularly those related
to wear and tear, this can be very
uncomfortable. A better postural and
more comfortable position may be
achieved by using a Rectangular
Shape, Small Tube or
Medium Tube/Roll, placed
between the chair and the small of the
back. This may then be adjusted to
locate the support, just where you need
it.
