SITTING WITHOUT SUPPORT

There is so much said about how we should all be sitting better. Unfortunately, when you were growing up, you may not have had much education about how and why you should be sitting in a particular way, other than “sit up straight!” As a result over time we adopt new patterns and ways of sitting, and because we do this so often these new patterns feel normal and then sitting correctly can feel uncomfortable or even painful because you are not used to it, and neither are your postural muscles

When we sit particularly for longer periods, we all tend to “relax” or sit in uneven positions, but there are consequences to this. Sitting in a flexed or slouched position causes a reduced activity in the muscles that run along the front of the spine. It also causes something called creep, which is where one vertebra slides back on top of the other, putting pressure on the joints, ligaments, muscles along the back of the spine and importantly increasing pressure on the discs.  Repeated sitting in a flexed position has been shown to instigate disc herniation. Research has shown that creep starts within 15 minutes of sustained flexion. Taking into account how often we sit every single day whether at home, work or in the car, you can begin to understand the demands you are putting on your back.

This sitting for long periods contributes to a large percentage of back problems and is often a significant factor in issues that seem to come out of nowhere.

Sitting without Support

Having a chair with lumbar support can help alleviate any discomfort and encourages you to sit properly so as not to cause stress in these areas of the body. The lower part of your spine naturally curves inward toward the belly, so having lumbar back support helps to promote good posture by filling in the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat. This will support the natural inward curve of the lower spine.

Without the lumbar support, maintaining correct posture is more difficult. The lumbar spine and the muscles in your lower back have to work harder to support the natural curvature and alignment. When you have sat for a long period, you tend to slouch, as the muscles holding the spine in position become weak. A chair with proper lumbar support will save the muscles surrounding the spine from being overworked. This support is essential for those with desk jobs where you sit for the majority of the day.