When it comes to the things you do on a daily basis, you don’t often think about sitting being one of the most harmful ones. It seems so innocent, and most work requires being in a seated position. However, the modern lifestyle that most people lead has caused sitting to increase to a detrimental amount. So much so that some people refer to it as a disease.
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “I have to sit! I’m at a computer for work, or for school!” While that’s true, it doesn’t change the fact that sitting may be hurting you in the long run. Here’s how.
Sitting Causes Discomfort, at the Minimum
When you head into work, or into school, you’re probably feeling pretty spry, right? And then, when you leave, you’re probably a bit sore, or maybe even in a bit of pain. This is just one of the biggest issues when it comes to sitting. In most applications, sitting requires that you be in a position that isn’t conducive for your spine and neck, causing minor stress throughout the day. That stress adds up, though, causing more discomfort and pain as the sedentary lifestyle continues.
Sitting For Too Long Ruins Postures and Spinal Discs
Most seats that you take aren’t going to be ergonomic. In fact, most of them encourage bad posture. Most writing desks cause the users to lean forward, which causes slouching, a craned neck, and odd amounts of pressure. When this happens, the discs between your vertebrae start to compress, and some even begin to bulge! The longer you sit, the worse it gets. This only compounds over time. There’s only so much recovery you can achieve on nights and weekends, after all. When you think about it, most of us spend over a third of our week behind a desk. It only adds up.
Long Periods of Sitting Still Cause Tight Muscles, Too
When you get comfortable, you’re likely to lock into the position that feels the best. Then, you stay in that position. If you’ve got good posture, your spine will thank you. However, your muscles may not. They’ll get tight, and they’ll want to be in that position for as long as possible. Then, when you finally do get up to move around, you’re more likely to be tight, and in need of a stretch. Going from the office straight to an activity like working out can even lead to injury!
Preventing the Pain of Sitting
If you’re worried about how much you sit, or the way you’re sitting, there are a few things that you can do to help ease your pain. Check them out below:
- Get an ergonomic chair. These force users to sit in a position that’s better for their backs, making their lives a little easier.
- Take breaks to stretch and walk. Sitting in the same position for long periods of time really wears on you. As such, you need to take time to get up and get moving!
- Use a standing desk. While standing all day may not seem comfortable, it’s much better for your back in the long run.
If you’ve already got the issues that sitting disease can cause, get in touch with us at North County Pain Relief! We’d be happy to help you get back to the way you should be feeling. It’s our job, after all!
