Above is a picture of the passenger seat in my car. A couple of things jump out as being questionable as far as the seat design. Even though the lower part of the seat is curved to facilitate the natural curve of the lower back, the upper part is then angled forward. Based on the information I've been writing about lately, this is incorrect. The upper part of the seat should be flat - the same angle as the recline of the whole support.
Another questionable aspect is the side cushions which push the shoulders forward. Again, according to the information available, this is not correct. With good posture, the natural position of the shoulders is back, to allow the chest to expand for breathing.
Since I'm stuck with a long commute this semester, I have been more concerned about proper sitting in the car. I know that Esther Gokhale is working on some type of accessory that can be used to make a modern car seat into a better seat. In the meantime, I have been trying a cheap substitute. I simply fold up my jacket and place it behind my upper back. This does a couple things: it pushes me forward so that I don't need the lower lumbar support, and it allows me to stretch my back out vertically instead of having the seat put me in a crumpled position. This week, it has definitely made a positive difference and reduced fatigue.
It seems pretty safe to say that most modern seats are poorly designed - that is, there are assuming the poor posture you see today is biomechanically correct. And airline seats, don't even get me started! I'm not sure who designed those horribly shaped seats, but they do not seem suitable for any type of human being.
Also, I do plan on emailing my car manufacturer and asking them about the basis for their seat design. It will be interesting to see if I get a response.
Above is a picture of the passenger seat in my car. A couple of things jump out as being questionable as far as the seat design. Even though the lower part of the seat is curved to facilitate the natural curve of the lower back, the upper part is then angled forward. Based on the information I've been writing about lately, this is incorrect. The upper part of the seat should be flat - the same angle as the recline of the whole support.
Another questionable aspect is the side cushions which push the shoulders forward. Again, according to the information available, this is not correct. With good posture, the natural position of the shoulders is back, to allow the chest to expand for breathing.
Since I'm stuck with a long commute this semester, I have been more concerned about proper sitting in the car. I know that Esther Gokhale is working on some type of accessory that can be used to make a modern car seat into a better seat. In the meantime, I have been trying a cheap substitute. I simply fold up my jacket and place it behind my upper back. This does a couple things: it pushes me forward so that I don't need the lower lumbar support, and it allows me to stretch my back out vertically instead of having the seat put me in a crumpled position. This week, it has definitely made a positive difference and reduced fatigue.
It seems pretty safe to say that most modern seats are poorly designed - that is, there are assuming the poor posture you see today is biomechanically correct. And airline seats, don't even get me started! I'm not sure who designed those horribly shaped seats, but they do not seem suitable for any type of human being.
Also, I do plan on emailing my car manufacturer and asking them about the basis for their seat design. It will be interesting to see if I get a response.