The effect on the spine of the sitting position:
It may seem that working at a desk for many hours is something quite normal nowadays and many people will find nothing unusual about it. However, when we consider the consequences of such a lifestyle, it can lead us to worrying conclusions. The sitting position is not beneficial for our health, since the spine is not designed for a sedentary lifestyle. Working for most of the day in a careless sitting position and a lack of exercise are a frequent cause of pain complaints. They do not necessarily originate in the spine itself. Excessive loads to the spine are transmitted to soft tissues (muscles, articular capsules, ligaments and fasciae), causing their prolonged overstretching. Pain may appear as soon as 30 minutes after assuming an improper position.
A careless sitting position should be avoided, as it provokes the spine to take an excessively flexed position. All surrounding tissues must adjust to such a posture, resulting in an equally unnatural position. The cervical and lumbar spine are at great risk of injury. Very often, we have to move our head forward to read a text or type on a keyboard. In such a case it may be helpful to use a text holder. It is also better to cast your eyes down while reading instead of lowering your entire head. Excessive tension on the lumbar region may lead to deformation of its normal curvature (lordosis). This problem may be solved by using a lumbar beck rest, which will help to maintain the normal curvature of the spine.
The effect of an incorrect sitting posture on our spine may be compared to a bent drinking straw. If we bend it too much, we will not be able to drink, as it will impede the flow of liquid through the straw. It will be useless unless we restore its normal position. The spine and the adjacent tissues behave in a similar way. Each incorrect position leads to dysfunction of a given organ. To ensure the optimal conditions for our body when we sit, it is necessary to assume a proper posture. The most important thing is to realize that a proper posture is not the one to which we are accustomed, but the one that is the most comfortable for our spine. Only then does it make sense to use ergonomic furniture, where you can take full advantage of their potential. So it can be said that a proper position begins in our mind, when we visualize a proper sitting posture for our body.
