[th5]

I'm 5'9" 150#. I was diagnosed with scholiosis in jr. high, had lower back pain when sitting all through hs and college (back when i was 130#). I too tried the standing desk and it didn't help.

Here's what helped -- about 3 years ago I got into squats and dead-lifting. I got them up to 1.5x and 2x body weight, respectively. I didn't gain a whole lot of weight, but my core strength increased tremendously.

Maintaining good posture requires some (~10-30%) flexion of the core/abdominals at all times while sitting. Now, after learning proper form of squats and deadlifts, my body goes into proper sitting form without even thinking.

Back pain is completely gone. squats and dlifts -- highly recommended!

tldr-its not about weight, its about strength

[dereg]

This cannot be emphasized enough.

To anyone reading, you don't have to do more than the big three — squats, dead lift and bench press — to build a strong core and ameliorate most RSI issues.

Regular cardio fitness and 10-minute work breaks are good, but can only take you so far. Being stationed at a computer for extended periods of time requires having a proper muscular frame to support your bones.

[dredmorbius]

Chins, man, chins.

Why do lats get no love?

[billswift]

Because we rarely ask our muscles to work that way. Deadlifts, especially, strengthen our bodies against the most commonly encountered stresses. While bench presses are commonly recommended, I think overhead presses and bent rows are more helpful at preventing injuries.

[dredmorbius]

I'm suggesting it more for the overall balance, and I'm not advocating dropping any of the other lifts. I love me my deads, don't get me wrong.

I'll grant that the vertical pull isn't commonly encountered (swimmers excepted) unless you're climbing trees to escape lions/tigers/bears, and I do a fair bit of horizontal pulling exercises as well (open a door, lift something toward you, row a boat).

Focusing on pressing without balance pulling tends toward imbalance IMO/IME.