Most people, it seems, spend time sitting down on most days. Be it sitting for hours in the office, binge-watching TV shows or scrolling through their phones with absolutely no end in mind; it has become a modern-day life norm to be sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Ever thought of how this habit affects the spine? Spoiler alert: it’s not great. As Dr. James Levine, inventor of the treadmill desk, famously said, “Sitting is the new smoking.”
Why Sitting is a Problem for Your Spine
Long-term sitting is bad for the normal alignment of your spine. This is because the human body is not meant to be motionless for hours at a time. Sitting for long periods compresses spinal discs, which are gel-like cushions between vertebrae, causing aches and even effects of long-term damage.
Hunching or slumping over a desk, straining your back muscles, and increasing the pressure on the spine add up over time and can lead to conditions like herniated discs and chronic back pain.
What Happens Inside Your Spine
Your spine isn’t just a stack of bones; it’s a complex system of nerves, muscles, and tissues. These are some of the things that may happen if you sit for too long:
- Reduced blood flow
- Increased pressure on discs
- Muscle weakness
These changes might not cause immediate pain, but the effects add up over time. Without intervention, the spine’s structure can deteriorate.
Common Spinal Issues Linked to Sitting
If sitting for hours is your norm, here are some conditions you might encounter:
- Lower back pain
- Sciatica
- Cervical strain
- Spinal misalignment
How to Protect Your Spine While Sitting
The good news? You don’t have to swear off sitting entirely. By making small changes, you can mitigate the damage;
- Adjust your workspace to become more comfortable
- Take regular breaks
- Strengthen your core
- Use a supportive chair
The Benefits of Breaking the Sitting Cycle
These simple adjustments not only affect the spine but also improve your overall health. Breathing and digestion usually get better due to the improvements in posture. Regular movements are good for preventing heart disease and diabetes. You may be surprised, during the day, how much more energised and focused you feel.
Sitting for a longer duration is a silent killer of your spine. Awareness and a few lifestyle changes will help a lot to save your back. Your spine literally is the backbone of your health; so get up and stretch for a little while and pamper it with care. Movement, as Dr. Levine says, is the best way to prevent the ill effects of sitting.
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