As modern technology continues to evolve it seems that people are sitting more and more. With smart phones and tablets such a big part of everyday life many of the activities that used to be physical are now played out without having to move much at all. It’s not uncommon for someone to get out of bed, sit in a car on the way to work, sit all day at a desk, sit in the car on the way home, and then sit all evening watching television or playing with their smart phone. Many visits to a Tewksbury chiropractor deal with back pain and related back issues, and too much sitting is one of the main culprits.

The Trouble with Sitting

Many people will look at the previous paragraph and say they have no choice but to commute to work and sit at a desk. This may be true, but excessive sitting is rough on your back and it’s also bad for your overall health. Even if your chair feels comfortable and has been deemed “ergonomically sound", it is still a bad idea to maintain a prolonged static posture. Even the most advanced office chairs can’t reverse the force of gravity. Aside from back pain, prolonged sitting will flatten out your butt and tighten up your hips and hamstrings, leaving you prone to injury when you exercise.  Sitting too much also promotes more serious health concerns such as increased risk of blood clots, increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain. Research has shown that these health risks aren’t improved with one workout per day if you sit for too long. You have to take matters into your own hands and start moving more.

What to Do If You Have a Sedentary Job

The reason sitting too much is dangerous for your spine is because when you sit you’re putting almost twice the stress on your spine as you would if you were standing. If you’re the type to hunch forward slightly in your chair, the problem gets even worse. When you have your shoulders forward your back makes “C” shape removing the natural curve at the bottom of the spine.
If you are among the many thousands with sedentary jobs, you can make a few tweaks to your routine to protect your back and ward off the more serious ailments associated with too much sitting. First, try your best not to slouch forward. Sit up straight with your shoulders back and maintain your natural arch in the low back.

Next, make yourself get up and out of your chair at least once every 30 minutes. Take a walk around the office, do some light stretches or just stand, but make sure you get up. If you have access to a standing desk use it for a portion of each day. The key is to take short movement breaks everyday so your muscles, tendons, and ligaments stay loose and flexible. If you have a sore back from too much sitting a visit to your Tewksbury chiropractor will help get things back in balance and remove your pain.

Contact our team at Harnois Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression Office today for help.