Body mechanics brainstorming

[untonuggan]

I have short legs and a super long upper body and am overall pretty short.

This means that when I sit in chairs, my legs dangle over the edge. As a result, I tend to (when situationally appropriate) slip my shoes off and sit cross-legged. Otherwise I tend to pitch forward in my seat and it's really uncomfortable. I've tried footrests for office chairs, but they are kind of meh; don't work for "I'm out and about"; I would need them for all my chairs. As far as ottoman-type stretch your leg out things go, when my legs are stretched out in front of me and only my heel or calf is resting on the leg rest, I tend to hyperextend my knees (also a problem).

Does anyone have suggestions for dealing with short dangly legs in waiting rooms or restaurants or cafes?
Does anyone have good chair-brand or seating option suggestions for short legs (and long upper backs/lumbar support)? Or ways to "hack" existing chairs?
Any other recommended seating postures for "not breaking my body"?

Also related:
Apparently because of my ulnar neuropathy, I'm not supposed to bend/compress my elbows too much. I do okay most of the time, even though I'm a side sleeper. However, when I read books (even when I hold them in my lap supported by a pillow), it seems to flare the pain up -- which then interferes with things like using my arms for a few days. I do like books though. My tablet also can flare this issue, but more with thumb pain. Any ideas for "how to hold things I need to hold in front of me to read without losing the ability to use my arms"?
(I do prefer paper books to ereaders for a number of reasons, like cost and reading comprehension is easier with my brain fog. I just. Don't know what to do because booooks.)

Comments

[worlds_of_smoke]

wrt: book holding: Maybe something like this, so your arms don't actually have to do the physical part of holding the books up?

[green_knight]

I was thinking of that - you can get book holders (I used to own one) or at least stands designed to hold up notes for playing music, which usually will cope with a light paperback.

[untonuggan]

ooo shiny this is a good idea!

[the_rck]

For books, maybe something like an adjustable music stand? Those can be adjusted in height to fit where you are and so are kind of flexible. You just have to look for one with a relatively deep tray so that you can use something along the bottom of the book to keep it open to the pages you're on.

For chairs, would a kneeling chair help? I used one in college when I had back issues and then later when I was working. I had one that folded up both for easy storage and so that I could carry it if I needed to. Looking at what I find on Google, they're fairly expensive, so I wouldn't suggest buying one unless you have a good long time to test it out and to be sure that it doesn't make anything hurt worse. I could definitely see it causing knee pain under some circumstances because the way they're set up, most of your weight ends up there.

They do (or did twenty years ago) make footrests that were relatively light. Most of the ones I encountered weren't very tall, but I think there were some (more expensive, of course) that were height adjustable. Yes, looking at Google ('height adjustable footrest'), there seem to be a lot of them out there. I have no idea which ones are better or worse, but I expect there are some reviews out there. The search brings up a lot of images. It would be something else to carry, though.

[untonuggan]

oh those are cool thanks!

kneeling chair would probably not work *for me* because of circulation issues, but I bet there are some "different body mechanics fancy office chair" type things around now?

[mathemagicalschema]

If you have any fondness for enormous high-heeled or platform shoes, that is *a* solution to chairs being homg tall. Not the best for walking in, but they *do* follow your feet in a way no footrest will.

[untonuggan]

ha! true. ;) (I have good luck with Dansko in this regard.)

[kaberett]

1. High heels are bizarrely good for this, in that they also encourage me not to hyperextend my knees while walking.

2. Book chairs! Consider book chairs. They are deck chairs for books. I was dubious and am now a convert.

[untonuggan]

ooooo *shiny*

[sage]

Re arms: I don't know if you could stand to sleep in it because they're OMG HOT, but when my elbows were at their worst, I was told to sleep in a cubital tunnel syndrome elbow brace. It did help, since it held my arms in a neutral position in my sleep, preventing both bending and hyperextending. They're effectively thin pillows that velcro around your arms, and you can achieve the same effect with a folded towel and a couple of strips of velcro. Like I said, hot as hell in the summer, but really good for undoing the nerve aggravation caused by using your arms.

Re legs: I also have disproportionately short legs. I either sit forward in the chair so my feet reach the floor or else sit cross-legged. If you brought a throw pillow to place behind your back, you'd regain some of the back support you lose from sitting forward. And, yeah, I hate ottomans because they make my knees hyperextend, too, unless there's enough room to tug them all the way up under my calves and get the support in the right place.

[untonuggan]

I feel oddly comforted that this is not just me. <3

[lilysea]

I have short legs and a super long upper body and am overall pretty short.

This means that when I sit in chairs, my legs dangle over the edge.

Me too!

I will be watching this thread with interest.

I tend to take my shoes off, turn a second chair around to face me, and use it as a foot rest.

I also told the staff at the dermatologist that I was desperate to lie down because lower back pain (true), and ever since then, I lie down on their unused treatment table while I am waiting.

[untonuggan]

I feel oddly comforted that this is not just me. <3

I often take naps when doctors take a long time. sometimes they give me blankets!

[lilacsigil]

Not useful when you're out and about, but my seat at work is tall and at a bench, so I can just touch the ground if I stretch. I have a little plastic step stool to put my feet on and it's very comfy. It's also non-slip so it doesn't slide away like an ottoman can.

[shehasathree]

I have a little folding foot stool which I use at home at the computer but could also take elsewhere if necessary (not public transport, but if I was going to be sitting down for an extended period somewhere). You just reminded me, actually, that I should try getting in the habit if bringing it more often. In the past I've usually brought a particular nice fat cushion I have which is awesome for combined lumbar support/ letting me sit far enough forwards that my feet reach the floor *while still getting to rest my back against something*. It squishes down into my backpack ok if I don't have much else in there; otherwise: a shopping bag, or a Steve to carry it for me. It could only be more awesome if it were completey collapsible/inflatable for transport, I think.

[untonuggan]

ooo step stool is a good idea! we do have a folding one in the kitchen that I think is from Target or Home Depot...

[davidgillon]

WRT bookholding, I did use a lap-desk similar to this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lavolta-Ergonomic-Laptop-Breakfast-Holder/dp/B007CYBY5C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1445936354&sr=8-3&keywords=lap+desk+tray for a while. Mostly for laptop, but it also worked for books. However I don't actually recommend this specific design of hinge as they systematically gave out on me over the space of a couple of years, with the internal pins shearing off. It might be okay for just a book, rather than a laptop, but I think something similar, but with fixed sides might be a better investment (and likely cheaper!)

[untonuggan]

thanks for the info!

[altamira16]

Ok, you can count on me for super weird answers. I have a long torso and am generally a long person so I do not have some of your chair issues, but I prefer to tuck my legs under myself when sitting in chairs.

One time, for unknown reasons, there was a kneeling chair in my mom's house. This helped me with keeping my legs below me, and keeping my back in a proper position. Initially, keeping proper back posture was difficult and uncomfortable because I generally hunch over a little.

[jesse_the_k]

A folding step stool that fits in your purse:
http://www.tippeetoe.com
Provides a footrest when ever, so your feet can go straight down. Other possibilities abound on sites catering to people with restricted growth/little people.

[untonuggan]

shiny! thanks!

[rainbow]

no ideas beyond portable footrest for the chairs; i've only got one chari i can sit on because of my wee short legs :x

i grew up with this, although it needs a firm surface: www.amazon.com/Fellowes-Wire-Study-Stand-Silver-10024/dp/B00006B8HT/

i kind of covet this one, but i haven't tried it and don't know how well it holds the pages open: http://www.amazon.com/Renegade-Concepts-Universal-E-Readers-Adjustable/dp/B005MKH1XC/

but mostly my wrists just don't like me to read books anymore :( :( so i use a kindle paperwhite a friend gave me instead. in bed i read lying down and prop it on a pillow. at my desk i put a folded towel under it to raise it up and tilt it.

[untonuggan]

thanks for the info! I am finding tablet + pillow means I'm reading a lot of zines lately.