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The Impact of Everyday Activities on The Body

Written on . Posted in Conditions, Exercise & Movement, Physical Therapy.

By: Monica Mai PT, DPT | Therapydia Beaverton

 

Do you remember your parents or teachers telling you to sit up or stand up straight? There’s a reason and here’s why. Spinal problems aren’t new. In fact, low back pain is the second most common cause of disability and also the culprit of lost work days.

Having a sedentary lifestyle has become more normal in our society. According to a 2012 study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, as many as 70% of people spend six or more hours each day sitting down. Did you know that sitting puts more load on your spine than standing? Slouching can put even more load on your back, ouch! Also, the longer you stay seated, the more likely you are to let your posture literally slide. Poor posture such as slouching can cause the spinal ligaments and tissues to stretch beyond their healthy limit and put extra stress on spinal discs in your spine. Here’s a chart that shows relative pressure changes in varying daily positioning from laying down on your back, to slouching, and lifting with different techniques. 

Do you relate to one of these postures?

What does this mean? 

Try to reduce the amount of your sitting throughout the day by varying postures for your back and neck. This doesn’t mean go do to the opposite extremes of never sitting or always standing. Mixing up sitting, standing, and moving throughout your day is ideal to reduce strain on your body. 

Tips for reducing back pain:

  • Get up periodically throughout the day to relieve pressure 
  • Incorporate exercises into your daily routine 
  • Strengthen the core to provide support 
  • Add a rolled up towel behind your back when sitting 

What now?

Schedule a consult or an initial evaluation today with a Physical Therapist to assess your pain and ergonomics. Your PT will talk to you about your history and take you through a series of tests and measures to determine the source of your issues. Based on your presentation, your PT may use different techniques to relieve your back pain. Talk to a PT today!

 

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Jessica Jones

Physical Therapist

Jessica recently moved to Seattle from Boston, MA and is excited to join the Therapydia team. Her treatment experience includes orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, and vestibular therapy. Jessica received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2016. She has completed the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency at Boston Children’s Hospital and is in the process of completing a Comprehensive Vestibular Rehabilitation certification. Jessica believes in empowering and inspiring patients to take control of their health through education, movement, and exercise. She enjoys treating patients of all ages and levels while utilizing soft tissue techniques, neuromuscular re-education, balance training as well as therapeutic exercise. In her free time, Jessica enjoys yoga, dancing, kayaking, and hiking with her dog!