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Question: Sir, I suffer from Arthritis in the lower spine and also in my neck. I find that I cannot sit in any chair for more than 10 to 15 minutes without moving my position, otherwise the pain gradually gets worse. Would there be any benefit in using one of your chairs? Regards Alan. (April 20, 2001)
Answer: Alan, first of all the word “arthritis” means an inflamed joint. (The first syllable comes from the Greek word for “joint.” The suffix “itis” means an inflammation, which is a condition and not a disease). I don't know what age you are. I will presume you are middle aged, certainly not in your teens, although arthritis can occur at any age. There will therefore be a certain amount of wear and tear in your spine. A likely cause could be a reduction in the thickness of some of your discs, one of whose functions is to act as a shock absorber and provide proper separation between the vertebrae. This can result in the facet joints moving closer together and eventually grinding on each other, roughing up the smooth surfaces of the facet joints which allow movement, causing pain.
Sitting with bad posture puts great stress on these joints and exacerbates the problem. You must always strive to sit with your spine in the S position. In this position the stress on your spine is the minimum possible. I have a serious back problem and yet several times in the last year have sat watching television for periods of 10, 11, and 12 hours pain free (I'm an avid sports fan). I use a reclining chair custom made to my physical specifications, and every 15 minutes or so move the position of the chair. The result of this is to transfer stress from one part of my spine to another, thereby relieving any irritation. This is what you are experiencing.
To answer your question. The only thing I guarantee is that you will be sitting with perfect posture. However the success rate with home chairs is 80% to 85%, office chairs 90%, and I rarely have a failure with a car seat mould. There is a huge chance that a custom tailored chair will be of benefit, but I certainly could not guarantee success, which I would define as being able to sit for four or five hours pain free. Hope this is of help. Colm Campbell.