Is sitting killing us?

MANILA, Philippines - You’re sitting pretty if you have good posture. Maintaining the right posture is more than just about looking good because it is one way to keep the spine healthy and prevent back pain. But while most people are conscious about keeping the proper bearing when they are standing, there is a tendency to relax too much and slouch to a “more comfortable” position when seated. By sitting too much, many of us can be setting ourselves up for chronic back pain.

Certain studies show that three out of 10 people experience chronic back pain,” shares Dr. Barry Kluner, a licensed chiropractic doctor from Canada who visited Manila recently. “The Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons tells us that back pain is the second leading reason for missing work; epidemiological studies in the US tell us that it is the number 2 reason why people visit their doctor; and back pain is the leading cause of disability in the US under the age of 45.” He tells us that obesity, a growing health concern across the world, is one cause of back pain, or accidents.  But more often than not, bad posture is to blame. Disturbingly, there are statistics that show that as many as 60 percent of teenagers experience back pain before age 15.

“Posture is a very big problem because we now sit too much,” says Kluner.  He points out that as people spend more hours in front of a computer and live more sedentary lifestyles at a younger age, the likelihood of experiencing back pain increases.

“Sitting puts pressure and strain on our back by exerting forces on it that the body isn’t built to handle,” he explains. Using a diagram, he illustrates that bad sitting posture forces the spine into an unnatural C-shape, instead of its usual S-shape. “Bad posture is more comfortable for most people.” And since the average person sits 9.8 hours per day, it is not surprising that the strain from sitting too long takes its toll on the spine.

“Sitting is killing us. Sitting is the new smoking,” says Kluner. More than just causing back pain, he cites studies where sedentary lifestyles are implicated as key risk factors in the increased incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and other disease.

While people cannot help but sit for long hours because of their jobs, Kluner recommends some exercise tips for back strengthening: “Create circulation by moving in your seat. Get off the sitting muscles to walk. Do stretching exercises. Dedicate at least three hours to active exercise per week when you are out of work.”

To make certain that one maintains the correct posture when seated, Kluner recommends Backjoy, a “supportive back orthotic ( i.e. an artificial support or brace) engineered to help maintain correct posture and relieve back pressure by flexing and cradling the pelvis.” Dr. Kluner describes the lightweight, portable device as “a simple solution to the complexity of a bigger problem.” As the device tilts to correct your sitting posture, “the strain and pressure of supporting your body weight is moved away from the spine’s muscles and ligaments and placed on proper weight bearing bones (ischial tuberosities). The result is less strain and pressure, and therefore, less aggravation and pain.” Not surprisingly, Backjoy has been likened to “a shock absorber for the spine.”

“Backjoy is a sitting aid, not a diagnostic tool,” Dr. Kluner stresses. “I need to trust that my patients have their share of work at home by using the assisting tool.”

But even those who have not yet experienced pain should benefit from the device. As maintaining good health is a personal responsibility, it is never too early to sit right and prevent back pain.

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Backjoy is distributed in the Philippines by Primer Group of Companies. Call 303-1234 local 526 or log on to www.primergrp.com.