Here at our West Vancouver Chiropractor clinic at Ambleside, we see many cases of back pain injuries that are caused by long periods of sitting poorly.
In an age where many people spend a long time sitting every day, it’s more important than ever to understand how to sit correctly.
The Modern Problem with Excessive Sitting
Sitting can’t be helped. The modern office is designed around sitting in front of a computer, sometimes for many hours. Driving your car is all about sitting for a long time in bad traffic. Even at home, in your armchair, or the sofa, this habit of sitting has become a part of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Regardless if it’s sitting in front of a screen for work or entertainment, we end up spending a big part of our lives on our buttocks.
In recent years the health risks of sitting for long periods have been explored at great depths. Not only is it detrimental to the health of your back, but also increases the chances of obesity, decreased cardiovascular function, and other severe health risks. Our West Vancouver Chiropractor deals with not only back pain from sitting but with other associated maladies that accompany bad sitting habits as well.
The standing desk and other workplace innovations has been slowly gaining popularity in companies across the planet. Getting on the move while holding a meeting or taking regular stretch breaks should never be frowned upon by your boss.
In short, to make improvements to your general health, you should avoid sitting for long periods if possible. However, if you do have to sit, here are a few tips to make sure you’re doing it right.
Getting Your Posture Right
We’ve all experienced the Friday afternoon slump. The long-term effects of sitting poorly for long hours at work are detrimental to the health of your back. You may start to notice pains and aches that never have existed before.
The key is to keep your back resting in it’s natural and neutral position. Your West Vancouver Chiropractor will show you where the natural curves of your spine are and tell you why the curves are there. Armed with this knowledge, you will look for chairs and furniture that will help maintain the natural anatomy of the spine. The spine has these curves to help maintain proper biomechanical alignment and weight-bearing of the body. Your chair should support this normal curvature if it is has been designed for long periods of sitting. It can be tricky to bring these issues up with your boss, but it’s worth mentioning if you feel poor chairs compromise your working position.
Our West Vancouver Chiropractor has identified three key things to work on to start making changes to your posture:
- Keep your back straight and aligned in its neutral position.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor
- Bend your knees at a right angle
It’s also essential that you get up and start moving every 30 to 45 minutes, just like you should give your eyes a break from the screen. This frequent break could be a short walk around the office, or a few standing back and shoulder stretches to ease the strain on your muscles and joints.
Practical Changes You Can Make If You’re Experiencing Back Pain
With the information given to you by your West Vancouver Chiropractor, you should maintain the normal curvature of your spine at all times – that’s why slouching is so detrimental! One method to make sure your back is curved correctly is to use a towel or lumbar roll at the base of your spine where the curve is. Alternatively, you can also use a footstool to make sure your feet are at the correct height.
Likewise, it’s wise to work on a screen that is level with your eyes. Many opt to use a laptop at work but don’t use anything to extend the laptop computer up to the right height. This posture of looking down at your laptop computer puts extreme strain on your neck and back over long periods of the day. While you might not notice the effects of constant neck and back pain right now, they will inevitably show up later in life.
Visit your West Vancouver Chiropractor
Our West Vancouver Chiropractor at Ambleside, West Vancouver doesn’t just specialize in treatment for back pain. He can also advise on the best ways to improve your back health based on the specific condition of your spine and the muscles around it.
Everyone’s spine is unique. Each person requires a different method of sitting to make sure they’re at no significant risk of pain. Visiting our West Vancouver Chiropractor is the perfect way to receive friendly and professional advice, plus treatment for chronic back pain induced by extended periods of sitting.
