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Why Sedentary Lifestyle Causes Back Pain And How To Solve It

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Brittany Wolfe
Why Sedentary Lifestyle Causes Back Pain And How To Solve It

If you spend most of your time sitting, then you might need a chiropractic adjustment in Denver sooner than later.

 

Most of the people spend more than six hours of the day sitting. Being seated for long hours has become a common feature at home, work and schools. The recent pandemic has also made working or studying from home common, increasing the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle.

 

This lifestyle is associated with obesity and many diseases. It puts some strain on the spine, especially if you tend to sit in awkward positions.

 

Moving as much as possible and being aware of your posture are some important steps for a healthy back.

 

What Is A Sedentary Lifestyle?

It’s a lifestyle where a person spends most of their time sitting or lying down with very little activity. It’s not exclusive to staying at home. It includes the total amount of time you spend sitting throughout the day.

 

Why Is Sedentary Life Bad For Back?

Stress On Back

Sitting for long puts some strain on the spinal discs and the muscles in the back and neck. It tightens your hip flexors and glutes, restricting blood flow to them. These muscles support the spine and them becoming weak makes it vulnerable.

 

Muscle Degradation

Muscles tend to degrade when you don’t use them much. And many of your muscles are at rest when you sit. Muscle reduces your endurance and strength. Even professional runners see a drop in performance after resting for too long. This makes you vulnerable to back problems.

 

Poor Posture

Many of us tend to slouch, lean, stoop, etc. after sitting for hours. Shifting into a bad posture can strain the spine by changing its natural curve.

 

Wear And Tear

Sitting in the same position for long hours makes it vulnerable to aches. It speeds up the wear and tear of the spinal discs. Being seated for hours regularly might lead to a chronic backache.

 

Obesity

Spending most of your time on a chair or can also lead to obesity. It’s because you don’t burn many calories when you sit. Obesity adds significant bodyweight and shifts your center of gravity. This strains your back and causes pain.

 

Solutions

Movement is the solution to prevent a sedentary lifestyle from affecting your health. Other lifestyle changes related to your diet and habits might help. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the impact of sedentary life on your spine:

Improve Posture

Try to maintain the curve of your spine when sitting, standing or sleeping to avoid straining it. Keep your back straight and head aligned with your shoulders.

 

Move As Much As Possible

Moving around can be difficult when you have a desk job or don’t have much to do at home. But it’s necessary because the human body was designed for movement.

 

Set a reminder to move around after every hour during office hours and when awake at home. Take a short break to stretch your muscles and walk around a bit before resuming whatever you are doing.

 

Increase Calcium And Vitamin D Intake

Calcium and vitamin D are necessary for strong bones in the spine. Calcium is a building block of the skeletal system and vitamin D helps absorb it.

 

Dairy products and leafy green vegetables are must-haves for calcium intake. You can get your vitamin D intake from fatty fish, egg yolk and beef liver.

 

Consult a doctor before trying supplements to know whether you need any or not and how much.

 

Exercise

Exercising is necessary to strengthen your body and build endurance. Try different types of exercises to improve strength, flexibility, balance and blood circulation. 

 

Your exercise routine can include simple workouts like walking and intense ones like running. Include rest days in your routine to avoid strain.

 

Consult Holistic Doctor

A holistic doctor in Denver can help you identify the cause of your chronic back pain and suggest treatment accordingly. They use non-invasive techniques like chiropractic adjustments. They can also suggest prevention methods best suited to your needs.

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Brittany Wolfe
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