[CQ-Contest] Coping with Contester's Crouch

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Many of us will recognize Contester's Crouch - sitting in front of a 
radio or a computer screen, head forward, shoulders hunched, ready to 
pounce.  It's instinctive, maybe, but not very healthy.

For the last dozen years or so, I've had a buildup of calcium on my neck 
vertebrae, pressing on nerves going down to my right arm.  When I sit 
for a long time - as in contests -  it can be really painful. After 
making lots of compensatory changes in the ergonomics of my station over 
the years, this fall was disappointingly familiar, but with a new 
addition - strong referred pain in the muscles just inside my 
shoulder-blade on that side.

So it was back to the physical therapist again, for more traction and 
electro-stimulation, but this time he suggested I try something else - a 
large lumbar cushion placed vertically in the lower back of my desk 
chair.  Because my weight would carried on the cushion rather than where 
my upper back rests against the chair, the effect would be to push my 
lower back forward, and shift my shoulders back.  I had been using a 
small one for driving, to help relieve some sciatica, so I figured, why 
not try it?

In my case, benefit was immediate and dramatic.  Where an hour or two in 
the chair would produce strong pain, now I can sit for hours with no 
pain at all.  I'm not about to go 44 out of 48 hours like K0DQ and 
others who totally defy aging, but this way I can have all the fun I 
want out of contesting, pain-free.

The particular cushion I use is by Tempur-Pedic, and is close to 3 
inches thick.  No particular brand preference here, except that the 
temperature sensitive foam adjusts nicely to spread the pressure across 
my back.

And of course, I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.  YMMV, etc.

-- 

73, Pete N4ZR
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