SITTING TOO MUCH

 

Do you do a lot of sitting? Are you sitting too much? These are good questions to ask yourself.  

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Our lives here in the United States have changed so much in the last 50-75 years, especially in the workplace.  

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Back 50-75 years ago, our work lives were much more physical and upright, i.e., we spent more time on our feet.  

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But today, on most jobs, we spend almost all our time sitting.  

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Examples are all around us, like office workers, truck drivers, forklift operators, etc.  

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The problem for a lot of us is we are doing way too much sitting.

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All this sitting is causing problems with overall health. We are turning into blimps.

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It can also cause problems with the low back, including low back pain, buttock pain, and problems with our legs.  

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These problems come from two sources.  

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First, depending on your body type, at least half to two-thirds of your body weight exists above the level of your low back. This weight is constantly pushing downward on your low back.  

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Secondly, when you sit, your low back bends at roughly a 90-degree angle (as opposed to standing, where your back is straight).  

This combination of weight and a bent position stresses your low back.  

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Over time, especially over extended periods, the discs and vertebrae in your back will start to break down.

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Since all the nerves in your low back are in your spinal column and exit your spine in the low back area, your nerves can get very irritated.

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That leads to low back pain, buttock pain, and pain running down your legs and even into your feet.

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There are all kinds of ways to relieve your pain. One example, and one of the newest inventions or aids, is “sit-stand desks.”  

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These desks let you change their height. That allows you to work some of the time sitting and part of the time standing up.  

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Just this ability to change positions will often get rid of your back or leg pain.

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So if you have one of these chronic sit-down jobs and are starting to have pain problems, don’t ignore it. Instead, get help from either your primary doctor or a back specialist. You’ll be glad you did.