Why can sitting lead to back pain?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:You'd think that the people most prone to back pain would be professional contortionists and those playing contact sports. While you can certainly suffer from acute injuries to your lower back from moving the wrong way, it's much more common to suffer from back pain from doing something that seems more harmless than a dead bug: Sitting. People who sit for long periods of time are prone to back pain because of the strain of being in a fixed, slumped position (which is why you need to maintain good posture). Sitting increases pressure in the discs, even more so than standing. Sitting also leaves back muscles weaker than watered-down coffee, since sitters don't actively use and engage those muscles much throughout the day - it's what's called disuse atrophy (in other words, lose it if you don't use it). Standing with poor posture also puts your back at risk, since belly muscles are lax and your spine bears the brunt of any unexpected or awkward movement.
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You'd think that the people most prone to back pain would be professional contortionists and those playing contact sports. While you can certainly suffer from acute injuries to your lower back from moving the wrong way, it's much more common to... More -
Brian Yee answered:Sitting, especially for a long time, can put undue stress on the lower back structures. There is a clinical term called ‘creep phenomenon’ which is like holding the ends of a piece of taffy and watching it slowly stretch out. Similarly, with prolonged sitting the structures of the lower back can slowly deform and tissue breakdown occurs. This can include the muscles, ligaments, joints, and intervertebral disc. Eventually with enough microtrauma to the tissues back pain occurs. To help prevent back pain with sitting, emphasis should be placed on improved sitting ergonomics as well as movement in or out of the chair before back pain occurs.
Sitting, especially for a long time, can put undue stress on the lower back structures. There is a clinical term called ‘creep phenomenon’ which is like holding the ends of a piece of taffy and watching it slowly stretch out. Similarly,... More -
Rick Olderman answered:Depending on how you sit, different muscles are acting on your pelvis and spine. These forces create stress to the spine. How you should sit should be based on your understanding of the shape of your spine and the forces acting on it. These can be easily determined for you.Depending on how you sit, different muscles are acting on your pelvis and spine. These forces create stress to the spine. How you should sit should be based on your understanding of the shape of your spine and the forces acting on it. These can be... More -
National Academy of Sports Medicine answered:Human beings were not designed to sit in a chair, even a fancy ergonomic one. People tend to slouch in their chairs or cars which places even more stress on important tissues like discs. If you do have to sit for an extended period of time, try and change your seated posture every twenty minutes or so and get up and walk around every hour. Use the rest room, get a drink, go up and down some stairs, just move about.
Setting yourself up for comfort is important. Your chair height should leave about a 90 degree angle at your knees or place your things parallel to the floor. Make sure the computer screen at your desk is straight in front of you. Having a monitor or screen even off by a couple of inches can lead to back and neck pain. If you are driving, try and use some lumbar support and keep your seat relatively upright with the steering wheel at a comfortable angle. Driving can be even less comfortable than sitting in a chair for many people, myself included.
Stretching before, during and after sitting can bring in fresh blood and nutrients to your muscles and release tension. Just think of a cat after it wakes up from a nap, it takes big streeeeetttcchh. Stretching your hip flexors, hamstrings and upper back can help you to feel great too. Hold your stretches at least 20-30 seconds and do 1-2 sets for each muscle.
Being in a static seated position, especially with poor posture can cause soreness in muscles, tendons and even ligaments and discs. So remember to re-adjust frequently, set yourself up for comfort and stretch!
Human beings were not designed to sit in a chair, even a fancy ergonomic one. People tend to slouch in their chairs or cars which places even more stress on important tissues like discs. If you do have to sit for an extended period of time, try and... More
