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There's no doubt that the era of working from home has come with benefits — being able to make whatever I want for lunch, saving time and money on my commute, wearing leggings almost every day, getting more sleep, etc. But if you're anything like me, an unintended consequence has been the increased back pain associated with sitting at a desk or on a couch all day.
According to the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown, over half of all American adults experience some form of back pain — including the youngest rung of the workforce. This is often a result of the poor posture from desk jobs, undoubtedly exacerbated by time spent on the couch with our laptops or phones.
Over the years, I have dumped so much money into treatments and products that haven't really helped my back pain. But, about 7 years ago, I found one thing that has worked for me — a $60 product you might have seen on "Shark Tank" by the name of the BetterBack. I used it in the office then, and years later I'm still using it at home now.
The BetterBack isn't particularly pretty, and yes, its name is a little gimmicky, but it is extremely effective at reducing back pain. It looks almost like a harness, with a soft pad that sits behind your back and a connected set of adjustable straps that are placed over your knees as you sit. It uses the tension from the straps to correct your posture and relieve pressure from improper spinal alignment, effectively eliminating discomfort and improving your alignment.
This is going to sound really dramatic, but the BetterBack has had a drastic impact on my quality of life at work. I've been using it for years and I am still excited to tell people about how impactful it has been. When I use it at my desk or on the couch, the burning pain and discomfort I was so frustratingly accustomed to just melts away.
The company suggests that you use the Better Back for about 15-30 minutes a day to help correct posture and re-train your body's sitting position — but I just tend to keep mine on. Plus, because it folds up neatly into a built-in zippered pouch, it can also be easily carried to and from the office if you're in a hybrid work situation.
If you suffer from back pain, particularly as a result of sitting at your desk all day, I cannot recommend the BetterBack enough.
