By Dr. Michelle Irwin

When it comes to low back pain most people automatically think of some type of heavy lifting injury or at least having “done something” to make it happen. The truth is that one of the worst things you can do to your back does “nothing” at all.

What I mean is, sitting!

For decades we have been saying that sitting is to your spine what sugar is to your teeth.

That is because just like eating too much sugar and not brushing and caring for your teeth you will be prone to develop cavities and decay, you can have the same thing happen to your spine, it is called degeneration.

Degeneration is when your spine starts to weaken and break down causing bone spurs, flattening of the discs, and even in severe cases fusion of the adjoining segments which can be very painful. If left unchecked advancing degeneration is irreversible.

Sitting for hours on end can lead to faster degenerative changes because our bodies are made to move and if we don’t move them, we will lose the ability to do so.

Sitting with the backs of our legs contracted all day at the desk and then going home to sit and relax at the end of the day tightens the hamstrings and locks the lower back up.

Then we can get pain that keeps us from moving like we should causing compensation, leading to another pain cycle, then we sit to help relieve the pain and the vicious cycle continues.

There is hope though!

Simple changes to your hourly routine can lead to less tightness and more energy. It is as easy as setting an alarm for every 20-30 minutes to get up out of the chair and walk for a couple of minutes, or if you can’t leave the computer you can stand up and do some deep knee bends or squats.

You will be amazed at how much more focus you have when you change it up and move the energy around your body and what you are doing.

Another thing to try is getting a proper standing workstation. Build up to standing for half your day. I like to recommend sitting for the first 1-2 hours, standing until lunch, sitting for lunch, standing for another 1-2 hours, and then you can sit for the rest of the workday. Then for the evening you have more flexibility and may even have the energy for a nice walk or workout before bed.

I know it may seem too easy to bulletproof your low back by doing something as simple as getting up more through the day, but it really is. Our bodies are designed for movement and with easy exercises and regular Chiropractic checks you can have a strong and flexible spine for a lifetime.

Chiropractic care focuses on healing the body naturally, holistically, and without the use of medication from the inside out. If you need help getting out of pain, schedule an appointment today!