The orthopedic style ergonomic chair that I order and will be evaluating has now been delivered. I have written an initial assessment of my thoughts on the chair and will keep an ongoing dialog going regarding its merits or otherwise.
As of now, I am initially pleased with the chair and its functionality, but to find out more you will need to see the blog that I set up for that purpose which is located at my-ergonomic-office-chair.blogspot.com.
This means that I have now received, and I am using, both the gel shoe insoles and the ergonomic chair. Only the mutli material Kaymed Gel Nest bed is still outstanding and delivery of that item is still some 3 weeks away.
Continuing with the Gel theme, I am intending to buy a gel mouse pad in order to take my complement of gel based products up to 3!
It is not the actual mouse pad that is made (filled) with gel, but the wrist rest that projects out and above it. Ideally I would line this component to have a smooth plastic like surface, but most gel pads seem to favour a fabric finish which I would rather avoid.
Having looked around, there is an extensive selection of Gel pads at Amazon, but I will check out some stores first and see what their prices and selections are like before I buy.
Friday 27 March 2009
Sunday 22 March 2009
Gel products reviews
I have now received the gel insoles mentioned in the last blog and expect delivery of the ergonomic chair over the forth coming days. The bed is still some 4 to 5 weeks away.
You can keep up with my evaluation of these products by looking at the on-going review blogs that I have set up for them at:
http://my-ergonomic-office-chair.blogspot.com
http://gel-insoles.blogspot.com
http://gel-beds.blogspot.com
Naturally, the blogs will become more active once I am in possession of all of the products.
As these products are all prompted in some way by my on-going back problems, and my efforts to alleviate them, I should also point out that I am also seeing a chiropractor with a view to sorting out the mechanical problems with my spine, hips (and “apparently” other parts of my structural anatomy).
The moral to all of this is simply that, when you think that you have a physical problem, go and see an appropriate specialist immediately. Do not wait 4 years, get a back assessment followed by some physiotherapy and, when that does not work, “try to live with it”. The problem gets worse and worse until, like me, you become compelled to do something after long term damage has occurred.
I had an accident which clearly did some damage and I have been too slow in my efforts to find a suitable specialist to resolve the injury. This becomes nothing short of ridiculous when you look at the number and variety of therapies and treatments available ranging from osteopaths and chiropractors to the more alternative treatments like acupuncture.
All of these therapies have a place and it is a question of deciding which one works for you, and then giving it a try.
You can keep up with my evaluation of these products by looking at the on-going review blogs that I have set up for them at:
http://my-ergonomic-office-chair.blogspot.com
http://gel-insoles.blogspot.com
http://gel-beds.blogspot.com
Naturally, the blogs will become more active once I am in possession of all of the products.
As these products are all prompted in some way by my on-going back problems, and my efforts to alleviate them, I should also point out that I am also seeing a chiropractor with a view to sorting out the mechanical problems with my spine, hips (and “apparently” other parts of my structural anatomy).
The moral to all of this is simply that, when you think that you have a physical problem, go and see an appropriate specialist immediately. Do not wait 4 years, get a back assessment followed by some physiotherapy and, when that does not work, “try to live with it”. The problem gets worse and worse until, like me, you become compelled to do something after long term damage has occurred.
I had an accident which clearly did some damage and I have been too slow in my efforts to find a suitable specialist to resolve the injury. This becomes nothing short of ridiculous when you look at the number and variety of therapies and treatments available ranging from osteopaths and chiropractors to the more alternative treatments like acupuncture.
All of these therapies have a place and it is a question of deciding which one works for you, and then giving it a try.
Thursday 12 March 2009
Testing out some new products: i.e. a bed, an ergonomic chair and orthotic shoe inserts
I am going to try and make some of the future posts to this (and other blogs that I run) more pertinent by providing some ongoing reviews covering a number of health and orthopedic related products that I have just purchased. There will also be links to useful websites and special blogs that I have set up for the review purposes (see near the bottom of this post).
The three main products that I have bought and intend to review are a gel bed, an ergonomic office chair and some orthotic shoe inserts.
At a first glance this selection may appear to be a somewhat eclectic mix, however they are most definitely not and here is why.
All of these products are concerned with body posture, the support and cushioning of the back and spine, the avoidance of damage to the body by impact stress, and the reduction of relaxing (and the collapsing) of the body’s skeletal frame due to bad posture.
To sum up there significance to me, my lifestyle and my activities, here are some facts: (and these will be duplicated by the majority of the population)
1. The bed: We spend over 1/3 of our life in bed and preferably asleep. This is the time when our body recovers and rejuvenates and it is the only time when we are (or should be) completely relaxed. It is a health critical item.
2. Ergonomic chair: Most of us work in an office (be it remotely or at home) and we spend prolonged amounts of time sat in a chair. This chair will be responsible for supporting the spine, preventing pressure point and facilitating our ability to use a PC, phone or other office tool. Again, this can account for almost 1/3 of a typical week day’s duration. It is a health critical item.
3. Orthotics: This terms simply refers to shoes insoles and shoe inserts designed with support, correction, posture and impact reduction in mind. If we are not in bed and not sat down, then the other 1/3 of our lives is spent on our feet making the shoe critical to good health.
I will end this post by giving a very brief summary of each product that I will be reviewing, starting with the bed.
1. The bed is a high end unit (Kaymed - Gel Nest Ultra 1800) with a UK retail price of £1725 in a double divan twin drawer format. It uses the latest technologies and combines pocket springs, high density visco elastic memory foam and gel. It is hand made and originates from Ireland. The blog review for this is at http://gel-beds.blogspot.com.
2. The ergonomic chair sells under various brands and I paid £230 for it in its cheapest (brandless form). I suspect that £400 will be closer to the typical retail price. This chair has 9 different comfort and posture setting adjustments. The idea is that you customise it for your size, weight, body shape and comfort requirements. The blog review for this is at http://my-ergonomic-office-chair.blogspot.com.
3. The orthotic shoe inserts cost me around £11 (inc p & p) and I ordered them online. They are for general use, e.g. walking, sitting etc, and are not designed for any specific problem. My main interest in them is for their impact absorption abilities and because they are another gel based product. The blog review for this is at http://gel-insoles.blogspot.com.
The background behind all of these product purchases is general health spurred on by continuous lower back problems resulting from an accident several years ago.
The three main products that I have bought and intend to review are a gel bed, an ergonomic office chair and some orthotic shoe inserts.
At a first glance this selection may appear to be a somewhat eclectic mix, however they are most definitely not and here is why.
All of these products are concerned with body posture, the support and cushioning of the back and spine, the avoidance of damage to the body by impact stress, and the reduction of relaxing (and the collapsing) of the body’s skeletal frame due to bad posture.
To sum up there significance to me, my lifestyle and my activities, here are some facts: (and these will be duplicated by the majority of the population)
1. The bed: We spend over 1/3 of our life in bed and preferably asleep. This is the time when our body recovers and rejuvenates and it is the only time when we are (or should be) completely relaxed. It is a health critical item.
2. Ergonomic chair: Most of us work in an office (be it remotely or at home) and we spend prolonged amounts of time sat in a chair. This chair will be responsible for supporting the spine, preventing pressure point and facilitating our ability to use a PC, phone or other office tool. Again, this can account for almost 1/3 of a typical week day’s duration. It is a health critical item.
3. Orthotics: This terms simply refers to shoes insoles and shoe inserts designed with support, correction, posture and impact reduction in mind. If we are not in bed and not sat down, then the other 1/3 of our lives is spent on our feet making the shoe critical to good health.
I will end this post by giving a very brief summary of each product that I will be reviewing, starting with the bed.
1. The bed is a high end unit (Kaymed - Gel Nest Ultra 1800) with a UK retail price of £1725 in a double divan twin drawer format. It uses the latest technologies and combines pocket springs, high density visco elastic memory foam and gel. It is hand made and originates from Ireland. The blog review for this is at http://gel-beds.blogspot.com.
2. The ergonomic chair sells under various brands and I paid £230 for it in its cheapest (brandless form). I suspect that £400 will be closer to the typical retail price. This chair has 9 different comfort and posture setting adjustments. The idea is that you customise it for your size, weight, body shape and comfort requirements. The blog review for this is at http://my-ergonomic-office-chair.blogspot.com.
3. The orthotic shoe inserts cost me around £11 (inc p & p) and I ordered them online. They are for general use, e.g. walking, sitting etc, and are not designed for any specific problem. My main interest in them is for their impact absorption abilities and because they are another gel based product. The blog review for this is at http://gel-insoles.blogspot.com.
The background behind all of these product purchases is general health spurred on by continuous lower back problems resulting from an accident several years ago.
Monday 9 March 2009
Buying a new bed
We are currently formulating our final thoughts on the purchase of a new bed with a maximum budget of around £1,500 ($2,250).
We have been checking and trying out numerous different options over the last 3 weeks and have been laughed at numerous times as we lie, for prolonged periods of time, on different beds in different show rooms. This is of course the only way to really check out a bed and to do anything else is frivolous and meaningless.
What we have looked at
We have tried to take in every bed type, manufacture approach and technology currently available and this has seen us lie on beds with a 6,000 pocket spring count, beds with numerous layers of visco elastic memory foam, latex mattreses and mattresses with a combination of different build materials.
Possibly the most interesting (and expensive) bed that we have encountered is one that combines a good pocket spring count with both visco elastic memory foam and gel.
Gel is comparatively new and seeks to remove the “hot sleeping” tendencies of memory foam through a very different composition.
The gel is not a viscous material, but rather an open box construction of a “rubber like” material and it proves very comfortable to rest on. We have tried one particular model of this bed a couple of times and it is the current favourite to take our money (or credit card details).
My main reservation with this bed is an earlier attempt (by Silentnight beds) to market a similar product which, based on my internet research, proved something of a failure. The beds did not perform, got complaints and were removed from the market. Not very reassuring.
The manufacturer that we are looking at is however one of the more cutting edge, top end and R & D focussed companies, so hopefully the product will be reliable. We intend to make a decision over the next few days.
Our alternative to this gel, visco and spring bed is a pocket spring and memory foam bed from a national retailer. Their price is much lower and the bed seems solid and comfortable, but it is perhaps less inspiring (if a bed can be such a thing.
I will continue the tale as events (and a sale) develop.
We have been checking and trying out numerous different options over the last 3 weeks and have been laughed at numerous times as we lie, for prolonged periods of time, on different beds in different show rooms. This is of course the only way to really check out a bed and to do anything else is frivolous and meaningless.
What we have looked at
We have tried to take in every bed type, manufacture approach and technology currently available and this has seen us lie on beds with a 6,000 pocket spring count, beds with numerous layers of visco elastic memory foam, latex mattreses and mattresses with a combination of different build materials.
Possibly the most interesting (and expensive) bed that we have encountered is one that combines a good pocket spring count with both visco elastic memory foam and gel.
Gel is comparatively new and seeks to remove the “hot sleeping” tendencies of memory foam through a very different composition.
The gel is not a viscous material, but rather an open box construction of a “rubber like” material and it proves very comfortable to rest on. We have tried one particular model of this bed a couple of times and it is the current favourite to take our money (or credit card details).
My main reservation with this bed is an earlier attempt (by Silentnight beds) to market a similar product which, based on my internet research, proved something of a failure. The beds did not perform, got complaints and were removed from the market. Not very reassuring.
The manufacturer that we are looking at is however one of the more cutting edge, top end and R & D focussed companies, so hopefully the product will be reliable. We intend to make a decision over the next few days.
Our alternative to this gel, visco and spring bed is a pocket spring and memory foam bed from a national retailer. Their price is much lower and the bed seems solid and comfortable, but it is perhaps less inspiring (if a bed can be such a thing.
I will continue the tale as events (and a sale) develop.
Sunday 1 March 2009
Gel Insoles
I have been looking at the various shoe insoles available online with a view to buying a set for some cheap and poorly padded “doc martin” style shoes/boots that I bought a month or so ago.
The choice is almost overwhelming and many of the options are intended to deal with a specific foot problem, walking difficulty, or “stance induced” back ache.
I my case it is simply comfort that I am interested in as the shoes in question become hard and uncomfortable if I walk in them for more than a few hundred yards at a brisk pace.
In short they feel like the “impact shock” of walking is producing shin splints. Not too pleasant.
Having scoured the internet I have determined that my preference is for some gel soles that come in a single size and that are trimmed to fit the shoe in question. It all sounds a bit “make-shift”, but I have ordered some and I will soon find out if they do the job.
Prices for these things seem to run from under £10 to £30 and the composition and claimed performance vary significantly. Some of these insoles are designed for high impact sporting use, whilst others are more for standing around! I have opted for something in between.
Once I have got them and tried them out I will provide some feedback on their performance and comfort. In the meantime here is a site that provide information on, and sell, these things - http://www.dreamyfeet.co.uk/anti_shock.htm.
The choice is almost overwhelming and many of the options are intended to deal with a specific foot problem, walking difficulty, or “stance induced” back ache.
I my case it is simply comfort that I am interested in as the shoes in question become hard and uncomfortable if I walk in them for more than a few hundred yards at a brisk pace.
In short they feel like the “impact shock” of walking is producing shin splints. Not too pleasant.
Having scoured the internet I have determined that my preference is for some gel soles that come in a single size and that are trimmed to fit the shoe in question. It all sounds a bit “make-shift”, but I have ordered some and I will soon find out if they do the job.
Prices for these things seem to run from under £10 to £30 and the composition and claimed performance vary significantly. Some of these insoles are designed for high impact sporting use, whilst others are more for standing around! I have opted for something in between.
Once I have got them and tried them out I will provide some feedback on their performance and comfort. In the meantime here is a site that provide information on, and sell, these things - http://www.dreamyfeet.co.uk/anti_shock.htm.
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