Having a quality lounge chair that you can relax in when you get home is a something that every adult should consider. Whether you’re sitting down at work, at home, or in the office, the state of your seat has a direct impact on your level of health overtime.  Don’t believe me? Tom Rath, author of New York Times bestselling book, Eat Move Sleep, said “Sitting is the most underrated health-threat of modern time. Researchers found that sitting more than six hours in a day will greatly increase your risk of an early death” [source].

Most highly technical health-related articles out there that cause your eyes to roll to the back of your head from boredom. Instead, we’ve designed a quick diagram to acquaint you with how your spine works.

Like any piece of furniture, your chair will need to be replaced at some point. You might be sitting in your favorite chair right now! However, in an effort to be completely transparent, this is a lounge chair that used to be in our office. I snapped a quick picture of it to show you that even we need to accept the fact that our favorite lounge chair needed to be retired.

Here are 5 important warning signs that you should check for before you make a decision.

#1 – You Beg for Back Pain Relief after sitting for Long Hours

I think that we can all agree that your chair shouldn’t leave you screaming.

And, for those of you who have a ‘butts in chairs equals productivity’ mindset, Rath also mentioned that walking could increase energy levels by 150 percent. “Inactivity is dangerous,” he said, “In fact, some research shows inactivity now kills more people than smoking.”

#2 – You Suffer from a Pain in your Knee

If after sitting for long periods of time in a lounge chair you suffer from pain around your patella or kneecaps, it could be a form of Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS). PPS, sometimes called “runner’s knee” or “jumper’s knee,” is common in people who participate in sports—particularly females and young adults. But, patellofemoral pain syndrome can occur in non-athletes, as well.

This kind of pain is particular annoying because it is known to come and go. It’s typically worse when your sitting still for long periods of time.  The best remedy to this is to look into replacing your old chair with a chair that has better lumbar and thoracic support. This will help to improve your posture and reduce the tension that you’re putting on your knees.

#3 – Are you Gaining Weight Sitting Down?

When it comes to the sudden spike in your weight gain it’s not about what you’re doing, it’s more about what you’re NOT doing.

Did you know that  within 90 seconds of standing up, the muscular and cellular systems that process blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol are all activated? All of these healthy benefits are activated simply by carrying your own body weight. These cellular mechanisms are also responsible for fueling your cells and, if done regularly, can radically decrease your risk of diabetes and obesity.

So what would you think would happen if you restricted these very vital bodily functions for hours at a time? To put it simply, it’s not good! In our article, 14 Super Healthy Workout Tips, we discuss how it takes burning 3,500 calories to lose one single pound.

#4 – Feeling More Sluggish and/or More Depressed

We’ve all had those days where we fell like we’re not performing at our best levels. However,  did you ever make the connection from your long periods of sitting with poor posture to how you’ve been feeling lately? I’m sure slouching, hunching, and the increased weight gain all do wonders for your self-esteem and productivity. This concept is called presenteeismis and it’s destroying our ability to perform well at work and at home.

Harvard Medical School, which suggests ‘lack of sleep’ costs the American economy $63 billion in lost productivity. And it’s not because employees aren’t showing up for work. We’re present physically, but we’re just not mentally in the game.

#5 – Do you commonly ask, “Why am I getting More Headaches?”

If you sit for extended periods of time, without using the proper posture, you’re probably creating a recurring tension in the both your neck and your lower back. This daily tension on your longus colli muscle, which  is responsible for stabilizing the neck and connecting to the vertebrae, can cause what’s known as tension headaches.

[alert type=”warning” close=”false”]The longus colli is the most commonly injured muscle in rear-end car accidents. This sudden jerking of the head of impact is what is called “Whiplash” and can cause an increase in the amount of headaches you get while sitting down for long periods of time.[/alert]