|
|
|
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
"Sit up straight." Is there anyone out there who upon hearing those words doesn't instinctively straighten up from a slumped posture? Ah, early indoctrination can sometimes be a good thing.
The following is not news, but we are now a society who spends a lot of time sitting in front of (take your pick) a computer, television, desk, video game, etc. Our children are spending even more time sitting down than we did as children. If you don't think this is leading to a major health problem, I can assure you otherwise. On a daily basis I see patients in my practice for no other reason than because they have slumped over a desk since kindergarten. The results of slumping can be serious including disc surgery and pain and numbness running down the arms and/or legs.
You can easily prevent this from happening. When you sit follow a few simple rules:
1. Place your feet flat on the floor.
2. Sit evenly on your sit bones (if you sit down, put your hands under your hips and rock side to side, you should be able to feel them).
3. Don't collapse your chest but lift it forward and up.
4. Relax your shoulders down.
5. Keep your head back over your shoulders.
6. Lengthen the back of your neck (in other words keep your chin down).
7. Reach the top of your head to the ceiling.
All right that sounds like a lot. Since physical therapists are an empathetic bunch, let me give you the tip of the day. A lumbar support pillow in the small of the back can help keep you sitting properly throughout the workday. (A lumbar support pillow is a small half-rounded pillow that fits over your chair and keeps your lower back from slouching. They can be found in any Back Store, ergonomics supply catalog or at your local physical therapists office.)
Second tip: Don't sit for prolonged periods of time. Get up and move around. We were not meant to be sedentary. Last comment: Sitting up straight makes you feel better and gives you a brighter outlook on life. So sit up and take notice of what's going on around you!
|
 |