Too Much Sitting Can Hurt Your Back

With COVID-19, many areas of our lives have changed. How we go out in public, how our children go to school, and how we work are the most significant changes that most of us have experienced. Traveling throughout Metro Atlanta is the greatest indication that hundreds of thousands of people are working from home. Traffic is lighter, and for those who do have to go into the office occasionally, they generally find that their commute is nothing compared to what it was just 12 months ago. While the improvement in traffic may be significant, working from home has some serious disadvantages.

Prolonged sitting can put enormous strain on your back. While many people are happy to work from home, saving time and gas money, they are generally not equipped with quality office furniture. A sedentary job post comes with many risks to your overall health. Our bodies are meant to move, yet most Americans have jobs that encourage them to sit for long hours every day. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and back pain issues can all be linked to sedentary lifestyles. If your job requires you to sit for long periods, you need more than just a comfortable chair to help keep you healthy and out of pain.

Ergonomic chairs can be expensive, but they can also help to provide the support your back needs for good posture. Sitting for long hours can pressure your spine and develop into nerve damage in the neck, shoulders, hips, and spine. A well-designed chair is important – but you should not sit in it all day long.

Your body needs to move! Movement not only gets blood and oxygen flowing in a greater capacity to every part of your body, but it also helps to loosen joints, tendons, and ligaments, so your body moves more easily. Movement also helps keep your muscles strong. When you go extended periods of time without using your muscles, your muscles will deplete. Depletion of muscle mass can lead to serious health concerns that can pose a risk to your life.

Simple Ways to Move More

If your job requires you to be at a desk most of the day, there are options to keep you healthy.

• Get a standing desk. There are many options available to convert a standard desk to a standing desk. There are options available to have a desk that will go from a sitting position to a standing position so you can change things up during the day.
• Go for a walk or two. Schedule a 20-minute walk into your workday once or twice a day. Go outside for some fresh air, and allow your body to move. This will get the blood pumping to your brain and muscles, clearing your head and allowing for some exercise.
• Get a really good chair. If you have to sit for long hours, a well-designed chair with lumbar support that encourages good posture is a must. Invest in a chair that will help you sit up straight and relieve pressure from your lower back.
• Sit up straight. Good posture is essential. Slouching puts enormous pressure on your shoulders and neck, and over time it can cause a permanent curve to develop in your spine.

The team at Medici Spine & Pain can help you find relief from your back pain. We can educate you on keeping your spine in good health with exercises that you can do at home to promote a healthy spine. Call us today to schedule an appointment.