A recent study by researchers from Canada and Scotland seems to prove that standing up straight helps to strain your back more than if you’d lean back a little, at 135º to be precise.

Measurements of spinal angles, spinal disk height, and movements were taken. When undue strain is placed on a disk, it moves - often out of place. The researchers found that the upright position, at 90 degrees, caused disks to move the most, while the relaxed position (135 degrees) caused disks to move the least. In other words, the upright position is the worst for the back, while the relaxed position is the best.

It’s going to be a bit hard to sit down leaning back since my chair doesn’t have back support. But still, it’s amazing how something we considered correct for so long happens to be completely wrong.