Are you concerned about maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle? Did you know that almost half of Australians have preventable medical conditions? The Institute of Health and Welfare studied Australian’s back health. Their research found that about 4 million or 16 per cent of the population had back problems. They also estimated that 70 to 90 per cent of Australians would have low back pain during their life. It may surprise you to learn that bean bag chairs can promote back health. Keep reading to learn why bean bag chairs are a great choice.
Common Causes of Poor Back Health
Many factors can contribute to back pain. Often it is caused by problems with the bones, joints, muscles, nerves, or connective tissue. The spine (backbone) has bones called vertebra. There’s a disc (strong gel-filled cushion) between each vertebra. The spinal cord runs through a hole in the vertebra. Nerves run from the spinal cord to other parts of the body. Nerves send and receive messages between the body and the spinal cord. These messages then connect to the brain, which controls all body functions. For medical purposes, the spine consists of the following sections:
- The cervical spine includes the seven vertebrae in the neck
- The thoracic spine contains the next 12 vertebrae located in the upper back
- The lumbar spine consists of the successive five vertebrae located in the lower back
- The sacrum and coccyx (tailbone) are at the rear of the pelvis
One or more parts of the spine may suffer injury and cause pain, numbness, tingling, and other problems. “Good posture” promotes spinal health. When the spine is in proper alignment, the bones, muscles, and ligaments stack on each other. Correct alignment provides increased balance and function with routine daily activities. When the spine is not in proper alignment, the muscles and joints become strained. This strain causes pain and can affect other parts of the body.
Poor posture or injuries to the spine can lead to:
- Herniated discs: disc protrusion out between the vertebra which puts pressure on nerves
- Disc degeneration: the disc become weaker and starts to break down
- Sciatica: pain, numbness, or tingling travelling down the buttocks and leg
- Pain, numbness, or tingling travelling from the neck down the arm
- Unnatural curving of the spine which affects balance and function
- Back pain
- Pressure on the spinal cord which can affect other parts of the body
Back problems may be constant or come and go. Sometimes they’re only felt when you move a certain way or stay in one position too long.
Can Bean Bags Help Relieve Back Pain?
Bean bag chairs aren’t only for hippies and children. They offer many benefits that promote back health. So are bean bags good for your back? Most people spend a large part of their day sitting. Thus, it’s crucial to ensure that your seating arrangement protects your back. Here are some of the benefits of using a bean bag chair.
Helps Your Posture
You now know why your mum’s constant reminder to use good posture was important. Bean bag chairs promote good posture. They support your head, neck, back, arms, and hips. Traditional chairs require you to adapt your body to their shape and position. They don’t allow for much flexibility in your sitting position. Some chairs can create strain and pressure on your back, hips, elbows, and wrists.
Moulds to Your Body Shape
Everyone’s body has a unique shape. Instead of moulding your body to the chair, bean bags conform to your body. This conformity increases your comfort. Their full, adjustable support decreases strain, tension, and stress on muscles, bones, and nerves. Thus, you experience less pain.
Helps Align Your Back
In traditional chairs, the bottom half of the spine often doesn’t touch the chair. Meaning you’re not getting support for your lower spine. Since bean bags mould and support the body, they help provide full back alignment.
Is a Good Ergonomic Choice
The science of ergonomics focuses on fitting the work setting to the worker’s physical needs. Non-ergonomic equipment can lead to work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Many companies now focus on ergonomics in the workplace to increase productivity. Improved ergonomics reduce time away from work and payment for worker’s compensation claims. Many employees who spend a lot of time at a desk complain of neck and low back pain. Computers in most work settings are the main contributor. Sitting at a desk all day requires proper back, shoulder, arm, and wrist alignment. Bean bags offer the ergonomic support and positioning needed to prevent work-related injuries. You don’t need to remind yourself to push back against the chair for support and not lean forward. When sitting in a bean bag chair, you naturally stay in a supported position. Relaxed employees experience less distraction and stress than their counterparts. Comfort improves overall job performance.
Designs Are Available for All User Sizes
Bean bag chairs are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. No matter what body shape or size you have, there’s a bean bag to fit you. They can also accommodate different users which makes them suitable for shared spaces. Bean bags come in the following styles.
Chairs
Bean bag chairs come in different sizes and styles with alternate covers, making them an excellent fit for people of all ages. You can choose from faux leather, faux fur, microsuede, faux linen, cotton, olefin, and polyester.
Chair with an Ottoman
Yes, there are bean bag chairs shaped more like an upright chair with an ottoman. These chairs create a comfortable chair and let you prop your feet up. This style offers a professional look that works well in more formal areas and offices.
Large Bean Bags
Many people enjoy these large square or rectangle bean bags. They’re great for lounging or even as an extra bed. You can also position them for use as a chair. They come in a range of colours including orange, pink, turquoise, charcoal grey, black, red, and more. You can also get an extra-large size that will fit any adult.
Lounges
Bean bag lounges offer a unique combination of casual styling and versatility. Often they’re made for indoor and outdoor use. You can get screen printing or heat transfers for personalization or business promotion. These lounge covers use heavy-duty polyester that’s fade and water-resistant. This fabric makes them perfect for poolsides, boats, beaches, universities, cinemas, and wineries. They have indoor fabric options in a variety of colours. Decorate your home theatre, library, or family room with these lounges.
Pool Floats
Imagine relaxing in your pool on one of the best pool floats without getting wet. Pool bean bags don’t need inflating and dry quickly. These fabrics withstand salt water, chlorinated water, and exposure to sunlight. They’re also big enough to fit two people. You can use these for business purposes and have your logo printed on them as well.
Other Benefits of Bean Bag Chairs
In addition to offering excellent body support, bean bag chairs have many other benefits. These include the following.
Affordability
As with all types of furniture, bean bags have a range of price tags. Yet, overall, bean bag chairs are one of the most affordable choices for seating. Possibly because they only have two parts: a shaped cover and filler. The vendors can mass-produce the casing in different fabrics and colours. Then they’re filled with the stuffing material and zipped up. This process lowers production time and costs compared to making traditional furniture.
Great Comfort Choice
There are no springs or foam cushions that can break or cause pressure on your body. Instead, the filler adjusts and compresses to disperse your body weight over a wider area. You can move around, and the chair changes its shape to match your position.
Good for Outdoor Seating
Depending on the casing’s fabric, bean bags make a great option for outdoor seating. Imagine lounging in a bean bag chair instead of on plastic straps. You can adjust to a sitting or lying position with ease.
Enhance Your Unique Décor
Do enjoy being bold and innovative when decorating your home or office? When people see bean bags, they naturally sense fun. Bean bags are fun. You can move them around so people can group. Everyone feels more relaxed and happier. Isn’t it refreshing when you rearrange your furniture? The character and feel of the whole room changes. You can do this regularly if you want to keep life fresh.
Cleaning Is a Breeze
Unlike with routine furniture, you can remove most bean bag covers and put them in the laundry. With bean bags, there’s no need for spot remover or professional steam cleaning. Average homeowners pay between $20 and $250 to get one piece of upholstery cleaned. If you want to clean a whole piece of furniture, it can cost from $50 to $200. Most washing machine cycles cost about one dollar. Due to the high cost of professional cleaning, many people will choose to live with the stain. They may try covering it with pillows or throws. Since the bean bag outer cover collects the most dirt, the ease of washing it promotes health. You’ll save money and keep your home or office cleaner.
Do Businesses Use Bean Bag Chairs?
In 2012, Google put bean bag chairs in their head office. Commentators thought the Google management had lost their minds. After all, workspaces should be formal to give a serious and professional image. Why would anyone allow their employees or business associates to lounge around? The 1970s are long gone. Should we be having “timey-wimey” philosophical discussions while drinking coffee? Google’s answer was, “Yes”. Their goal was to make the work experience feel more like play. They believed it would energize employees and clear psychological hurdles. It worked. Now you’ll see these type of chairs all around. Many people now use bean bag chairs for home office and traditional office spaces. Managers and employees say that the work environment does indeed feel more fun. Snuggling in a bean bag chair with your laptop is much better than hunching over a desk.
Bean Bags Aren’t Just for The Work Area.
More companies are joining the bean bag chair movement and putting them in the workplace. They aren’t only used for the assigned work location, though. Now you will find them in break rooms and rest areas. Today, many employees are encouraged to enhance their performance. They take on more work, skip breaks, and never leave their desk. This practice is, in fact, less effective and unhealthy. Staples conducted an employee survey in 2014. They found that breaks made their workers 86 per cent more productive. Employee morale increased by 59 per cent when they took regular breaks. Encouraging breaks and creating an inviting, comfortable place to go is a game-changer. Other benefits include:
- Increased job satisfaction
- Improved mental health
- Increased creativity and innovation
- Reduced burnout
- Improved employee health and wellness
- Enhanced work ambience and décor
When establishing your workplace policies for breaks, plan for a rest area. Create a space that will attract your employees. You may want to use company colours to promote workplace spirit. Alternatively, you can choose calm, relaxing hues to rejuvenate your workers. Consider surveying your employees about their preferences to foster empowerment.
Are You Considering Buying Bean Bag Chairs?
Bean bag style chairs provide many benefits to different settings. Sitting in a bean bag chair improves mental, physical, and back health. Bean Bags R Us is an Australian owned and operated company. Our motto is, “Being normal is boring.” We make the coolest and best quality bean bags on the planet. These “Hippie Chairs” have stood the test of time and are still fun and comfortable. Our bean bags have up to four times thicker covers. Outdoor styles are water-resistant with a high-quality PU coating. Contact us today by phone or email to learn more about our bean bags.
