I want to get the most out of my gaming session, so to stay focused, I keep a few snacks and water by my side. But honestly, my posture is the last thing on my mind. I can hear my mom: “Ashley, sit up straight!” As much as I don’t want to admit it, she was right: the consequences of poor posture have long-term effects.
Posture plays such an important role in shoulder and wrist function. Poor posture could be the root cause of pain in the shoulder and wrist.
Here’s a quick test: while sitting at your PC (make sure no one is looking!) don’t sit up straight; instead, maintain the slouched posture we all fall into while gaming.
Now, raise both arms overhead like you’re doing a jumping jack. It’s tricky, right!?
It may even be a bit painful and restrictive as you raise your arms. Alternatively, sit up straight.
Perform that same overhead arm motion. Feel how much easier and less restrictive it is?!
The shoulder is a complex ball and socket joint. Its movement depends heavily on the position of bones around it – for example, the scapula, the humerus, and the collarbone.
If not properly aligned or otherwise in a poor or slumped posture, range of motion is reduced, leading to pain.
When sitting in a slumped or slouched posture, the head shifts forward, shoulders round, and the scapula tilts forward. This causes a reduced space, preventing movement and causing muscle strain.
Without proper elbow and wrist support, nerves are stressed and muscles are injured.
The key to good posture is pelvic support (not lumbar support) that aligns the spine to stack upright above the pelvis, in a neutral position. A gaming chair should allow you to hold your shoulders back in the neutral posture. The final key element is armrests that support neutral posture in the elbow and wrist.
Traditional gaming chairs’ back size and shape push your shoulders forward and lack pelvic support for upright posture.
When the shoulders are pushed forward, the armrests can’t support the elbows and the wrists, resulting in more pain and injuries.
Anthros’ tapered upper back design allows the shoulders to relax in a neutral posture.
Additionally, the wrists are supported in a neutral position.
Anthros’ patented lower back pelvis support aligns the spine in neutral, helping you to destroy the competition while gaming.