Can Disk Herniations Be Caused By Bad Posture When Sitting ?
Posted Jun 02 2009 4:35pm
San Franciscoand Marin County Disk Pain Treatment center comments:
Most of the patients we treat at our SF Bay Area Disc and Hand Pain centers spend the majority of their work day sitting in front of a computer. Most of the retired patients we treat spent most of their work day in front of a computer when they were working. And, just about all of the working and retired patients we see spend hours and hours per day at home on their computers. So, what does this have to do with Disk Herniations ? Well, research is telling us that our bodies were not designed to be sitting. Sitting is the position that puts the most amount of pressure in the disks (which over time can lead to bulges and herniations). There are ways to cushion the blow by designing chairs that support the spine and learning what the best placement is for our computers and the proper height of the monitor and so forth. This is the science of ergonomics. I have fond an article by a manufacturer of ergonomic equipment that shows a chart of postures and their corresponding intradiscal pressures. It is wise to become familiar with this chart. Of course, laying on our backs (with knees slightly bent) is the least. Then laying on our sides (with a pillow between our knees). Then, when we stand up it really increases. This is why it is not uncommon for patients that have disk problems to feel the worst when they get up out of bed in the morning. So, what do we do ? We have to work, and most of us want to spend time on-line. This is not going to change. What we can do is try to setup our sleeping and working environments for maximum resistance to the forces of gravity, as well as maximum spinal support. It's not hard. It just takes a little research, that I will help you with, and a little cash outlay to buy the right stuff, and some focus and attention. You want to get up and move around every 15-20 minutes. Maybe do some stretches or warm-up exercises (that we provide you). And, every time you do anything, think about how it is going to effect your spine. This is especially helpful if you are recovering from disk related back problems. The more you do the more you gain, and the faster you recover. In addition, the more long lasting your results will be, because you have addressed one of the main causes of abnormally high intradiscal pressure which leads to disc bulges and herniations (poor posture and ergonomics).
San Franciscoand Marin County Disk Pain Treatment center comments:
Most of the patients we treat at our SF Bay Area Disc and Hand Pain centers spend the majority of their work day sitting in front of a computer. Most of the retired patients we treat spent most of their work day in front of a computer when they were working. And, just about all of the working and retired patients we see spend hours and hours per day at home on their computers. So, what does this have to do with Disk Herniations ? Well, research is telling us that our bodies were not designed to be sitting. Sitting is the position that puts the most amount of pressure in the disks (which over time can lead to bulges and herniations). There are ways to cushion the blow by designing chairs that support the spine and learning what the best placement is for our computers and the proper height of the monitor and so forth. This is the science of ergonomics. I have fond an article by a manufacturer of ergonomic equipment that shows a chart of postures and their corresponding intradiscal pressures. It is wise to become familiar with this chart. Of course, laying on our backs (with knees slightly bent) is the least. Then laying on our sides (with a pillow between our knees). Then, when we stand up it really increases. This is why it is not uncommon for patients that have disk problems to feel the worst when they get up out of bed in the morning. So, what do we do ? We have to work, and most of us want to spend time on-line. This is not going to change. What we can do is try to setup our sleeping and working environments for maximum resistance to the forces of gravity, as well as maximum spinal support. It's not hard. It just takes a little research, that I will help you with, and a little cash outlay to buy the right stuff, and some focus and attention. You want to get up and move around every 15-20 minutes. Maybe do some stretches or warm-up exercises (that we provide you). And, every time you do anything, think about how it is going to effect your spine. This is especially helpful if you are recovering from disk related back problems. The more you do the more you gain, and the faster you recover. In addition, the more long lasting your results will be, because you have addressed one of the main causes of abnormally high intradiscal pressure which leads to disc bulges and herniations (poor posture and ergonomics).