Inactivity is one of the worst things for your body, and this applies to your back as well. If you suffer from chronic upper or lower back pain, then your chiropractor in San Jose may ask you how much of the day you spend sitting. Read on to learn some of the ways in which sitting can lead to back muscle pain.
Sitting can promote muscle tightness.
When you spend large parts of your day sitting, your muscles grow accustomed to this position and can tighten up instead of being loose and flexible. Once muscles become tight, this can lead to pain, reduced range of motion, and an increased chance of injury. To help prevent this, be sure to get up and move around a bit throughout the day. Also, stretching your glute, hamstring, and calf muscles when you wake up, at midday, and before bed can improve your muscle flexibility.
Sitting can make you more vulnerable to injury.
The more sedentary that you are, the weaker your muscles become. If you regularly spend significant portions of your day sitting without any supplemental exercise, suddenly choosing to begin an exercise program can lead to back pain. Because your back muscles have weakened while you have been inactive, your back becomes more prone to injury if you choose to jump into an intense workout plan. To help prevent this, talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program and start out slowly to give your body time to adjust. Including back strengthening exercises can also be beneficial.
Sitting can encourage bad posture.
As your muscle strength declines while you spend hour after hour sitting each day, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain good posture in your chair. When this occurs, many people slouch forward and arch their head backward, a position that puts your spine into unnatural alignment. This problem can lead to neck, shoulder, and upper and lower back pain, so choose a chair and desk setup that supports your back and encourages good posture.
