Posture :: Working on Laptop in Bed

Question

I spend a huge chunk of my time on my bed working on my laptop reading and typing (I have no option) and I am concerned about the health of my spine and body as a whole. My usage is well over 6 hours (continuously at times). I have a few "ways" to sit, I don't know which would be best for me:

1. Sit with laptop on my lap and back against a wall (Like this but with the laptop on my lap instead of on the bed)
2. Use one elbow as support while lying on my side while reading (Somewhat like this)
3. Without any back support with crossed legs (Like this)
4. Kneeling (Japanese Style?) with laptop on bed. (This?) and many others.

Considering that the bed is the only place I can operate my laptop, which posture would be best for my back and neck?

Note: I don't think the question is too localized or off topic. I am asking for a general mode of sitting for people operating laptops/tablets on bed for reading purposes. The photos are merely to aid imagination. Further, it has everything to do with fitness.

Answer 1

I do the same though not for such extended periods of time.

What i do when i expect to be working in bed for more than an hour is to create a lumbar support out of a sturdy pillow by tightly bunching it up in its pillowcase. I then use another fairly sturdy pillow between me and the lumbar support to use for the length of my back. It creates a kinda triangular pillow the the image below but with better support for my lower back, it feels. The key, at least for me, is to keep my back straight without putting stress on my lower-back while essentially sitting in bed though i'm generally little more reclined than this:

The next thing i do is to put pillows under my knees to provide support for my laptop-stand (that holds the laptop and doesn't slide on my legs since the laptop will be tilted down) so that the screen is at a comfortable eye level to ensure i'm not bending my neck, i.e. not tilting my head as if looking-down. The angle is fairly steep. Far more than this:

Essentially, it looks like i'm in a slight reclined, ~20-30%, seated position. Kinda looks like what it looks like to tilt yourself back in a chair, about like the image below but slightly less angled back.

It took me a fair amount of trial and error to get what feels right for me. And while i'm not confident that it wouldn't cause some long-term issues, i've been doing this for a few years without any noticeable problems. It feels very comfortable and i almost never feel any neck, shoulder or wrist strain like i can when i sit at a normal desk for hours at a time.

All that said, i'm looking into converting my office desk into a standing desk. As i understand it, standing is far healthier than sitting, and with the proper ergonomics, wouldn't be noticeably uncomfortable like people seem to think.

Answer 2

Whichever position(s) you choose, I'd recommend combining that with some kind of reminder software that will alert you hourly to get up and walk around and/or stretch for a few minutes. There are free options out there (search for "stretch reminder").

Recent studies suggest that, even if you work out vigorously for an hour or two a day, sitting for over six hours may actually negate that. It also increases risk for diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Be safe!

Answer 3

All of the Above

Given such a situation, I would perpetually swap between each of the positions you list, and if possible add a standing desk. I would also sit on the edge of the bed with the laptop on my lap and my legs on the floor.

None of these positions is any good for your back for six hours straight. Standing is a little better, but even standing is a bad idea for six- or eight-hour sessions. It's just not reasonable to assume that the human body can flourish in an essentially motionless position for hours at a time. You simply have to keep moving between positions, taking walks, and stretching. This might be less than ideal for maintaining flow states or momentary comfort, but it's necessary for postural well-being.