Sitting is one of the most difficult positions for the body
to maintain. Sitting for prolonged periods of time while hunched over in a
chair can build excessive pressure on the spine and affect the blood
circulation in the legs. For an individual that spends their workdays sitting
down, the long term result of an improper posture can greatly alter the individual’s
overall health.
The Effects of Improper Sitting Postures
Sitting for extended periods of time while hunching over a desk can cause discomfort, numbness and spine misalignment over time if the improper posture is not corrected. Holding the body upright can also further increase pressure and tension in muscles, ligaments, joints, and other tissues surrounding the spine. A sedentary lifestyle where the individual doesn’t take frequent breaks throughout their workday to stand and stretch can gradually lead to cardiovascular disease due to the decreased blood flow, tightened hip flexors, shortened hamstrings, pinched nerves and many other physical injuries and/or conditions in the long run.
Aches and pains on the body, particularly around the spine,
herniated discs, nerve complications and painful joints are direct results of working
while sitting in an improper posture for prolonged hours of the day. When
you're in a seated position, a lot of pressure is being placed directly on the
spine and its surrounding structures. Our bodies were designed to stand upright
and maintaining a seated position can be physically stressful.
Facts: Chiropractic vs. Traditional Care Preventing Back Pain
"The weight is distributed while in a standing
position," explained Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., a health psychologist at
Stanford University and a leading expert in neck and back pain, “That's not the
case with sitting. McGonigal added, "When you sit, you distort the natural
curve of the spine, which means your back muscles have to do something to hold
your back in shape because you're no longer using the natural curves of the
spine to lift yourself up against gravity."
Approximately 80 percent of individuals in the United States
alone may experience some form of chronic pain in their lifetime. Ultimately,
working on a sitting position for extended periods of time per day is putting a
tremendous mental and physical stress on our bodies.
Maintaining good posture when sitting helps preserve the
three natural curves of a healthy spine; the cervical curvature, the thoracic
curvature, and the lumbar curvature. The normal curvatures of the spine should
form a slight S-shape. An excessive curve in the spine could suggest a possible
underlying condition and may present symptoms of pain and discomfort, among
other uncomfortable symptoms.
How to Improve Sitting Posture
The key to maintaining a proper posture is to avoid slouching by sitting up straight as well as sitting all the way back in your chair. Additionally, the chair should be tucked in close to the desk. Placing a pillow or cushion directly behind your lower back area, or the lumbar spine, can help sustain good posture by providing enough support and allowing the spine to naturally curve inward. Furthermore, it’s also recommended to stand and stretch about every 20 minutes to give your body a break from long held positions, release pressure that is being built up on the spine and restore the body’s regular circulation by pushing the blood out of your legs. Doing this consistently throughout your day can prevent the muscles, ligaments and other tissues of the body from getting strained. Simple stretches at your desk, such as twisting, turning the head from side-to-side and chin tucks upward towards the ceiling can also help. These movements will ultimately help to relieve an individual’s chronic pain as well as restore an individual’s health progressively over time and improve their overall well-being.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez