At our West Vancouver Chiropractor clinic, we get a lot of patients that work in the modern workplace that involves a lot of sitting down. If you’re not sitting down at your desk at work, you’re in the car on the way to work, or relaxing after getting home.
Sitting isn’t the problem, but a slouching posture can cause your spinal ligaments to stretch and eventually lead to back pain. Although this affects your lower back first, the pain can spread to your entire back. Some people in the medical industry are now referring to this modern health affliction as ‘sitting disease.’
At our West Vancouver Chiropractor clinic, we often get patients who are sick and tired of their back hurting all the time. Here are a few things you can do to help improve your posture, reduce back pain, and make it easier to sit for long hours in front of the computer.
Posture Is Everything
Test yourself next time you’re sitting at your desk. Do you find yourself slouched back in your chair, or bent over the keyboard? If you are, this is likely the cause of your reoccurring back pain.
Sitting for extended periods, especially with poor posture, puts immense strain on your spine, ligaments, and muscles. The pain can afflict your lower back, your spine, and your neck all at different times.
Make sure your computer is level with your eyes – so many people work on laptops, staring down at the keyboard. This anterior head carriage posture can lead to severe neck pain! Next, make sure your chair is comfortable and that your feet are firmly on the floor.
However, even with an excellent posture, you shouldn’t stay seated for too long. This unhealthy trend is now all too common in the modern workplace. Companies who are aware of this have started to introduce new methods that are proven to help improve your spine health.
Stand Up!
Standing up is the surefire way to feel refreshed after sitting down for a long time. Too many times we’ve watched people come into work, sit down until lunchtime, pull their lunch out of their bag, and continue to sit throughout their lunch break.
Over an extended period, this is hugely detrimental to the health of your back! All you need to do is spend 10-15 minutes standing or walking, at least 2-3 times a day. You should do more than that really, but we understand the restraints of working in a busy office or working to strict deadlines.
That’s why the ingenious Stand Up Desks are taking the office furniture marketplace by storm. An extendable desk that allows you to stand up while you work is an excellent answer to the sedentary lifestyle typical in the workplace.
Stretch!
Walking or squeezing in a few minutes of exercise every day will help your back pain, but stretching also works its magic on your muscles, ligaments, and bones.
Stretching is easy, you say. Well, yes, you stretch your arms, legs and back every day, but it pays off if you learn a few simple back stretches. Our West Vancouver Chiropractor can give you a list of simple stretches to do.
Take the shoulder extension, for example. This stretch is done by raising your arms above your head and clasping your hands together. You should feel instant relief in your shoulders.
Other Simple Ways to Improve Your Day-To-Day Back Health
A Stand-Up Desk is a great way to make sure you’re stretching each day adequately, but there are some other even more straightforward methods that will have a positive impact over the long run.
First off, walk! Park your car further away from the office or go and say hello to a colleague rather than messaging them on your mobile phone. In an ideal world, you should be walking for at least 30 minutes a day. It does wonders for your spine in between long periods of sitting.
Second of all, invest your spine’s health. Notice what makes your back hurt and what helps to relieve the pain. Too many people accept a bad back as a symptom of growing older. However, it doesn’t have to be like that. Daily exercise, stretching, and just merely moving will alleviate a lot of back pain.
Our West Vancouver Chiropractor at Ambleside Chiropractic has helped so many people realize that they no longer have to live with back pain. Just merely educating them on what is causing their back pain has enabled them to rid their lives of irritating and debilitating back pain for good.
