Alva Review-Courier -

The search for the perfect chair. We have all seen “relax the back” commercials and all sorts of contortion devices, anti-gravity and the like, to alleviate that which has plagued mankind since Noah built the Ark: back pain.

Whether in the fifth lumbar, the sacroiliac region, or a cervical vertebra, back pain is difficult to live with, elusive to treat, and often has unsatisfactory surgical results.

Commercials promote patches and Shaq is now plugging an electro-stimulator.

Since most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives, research continues to find the perfect treatment such as glucosamine-chondroitin. I have friends who swear by Elk antler velvet. Since they are considered dietary supplements, not medicine, they are less restricted by the FDA.

But for many people, a chair makes a big difference. One of the earliest lumbar support chairs comes from the Chinese Song Dynasty and now the term “ergonomics” has entered the vocabulary for seats in offices, automobiles and the home.

I always search for the padded seat in a waiting room but keep in mind that humans weren’t meant to sit! According to Sarah Begley in her new book, “the search will never end. We are good at walking, running, lying down, but the in-between position is the problem.” It is true that some chairs are better than others, the chaise lounge comes to mind, but the old-fashioned rocking chair is hard to beat, especially on the front porch with a tall glass of Country Time lemonade.