The most important risk factors for chronic sitters

Modern life is a seated affair: we sit to commute, to work, to relax and, increasingly, to recreate. We pass time seated flicking through our phones, eating meals with our friends and binge-watching Netflix series. The primary seated activities of reading, or simply watching television, have taken a back seat to the proliferation of devices that now occupy our hands and minds. What is the problem, you ask? Sitting is the worst position for the human spine- it places exponentially more downward pressure on your vertebrae than standing or lying down. And very few of us are conscious about our posture while we sit, meaning that the ill-effect is amplified that much more. There should be no equivocation: as a society, we are feeling the effects of all this sitting earlier and harder than ever before. So what should we do about all this sitting? 

A simple movement to ease the ill-effects of chronic sitting

Sitting compromises spinal flexibility and increases our risk for back pain and injury. In order to combat this, we have a simple move: it’s called the Lateral Leg Lift, and if you sit a lot, you should be doing it every day! Here’s how it works: 

1. Lay on one side, with your lower arm extended straight ahead of you.
2. Lift both legs in the air until your lower ankle is 4-6 inches above the ground. 
3. Hold 15-20 seconds, then lower your legs gently.
4. Repeat on the other side

This is a holistic strengthening exercise that targets the muscles involved in core stability. These same muscle groups form the main network of support for your lower back and make maintaining good posture easier. 

Mitigating the effects of sitting with your Sacramento chiropractor

At Espinosa Family Chiropractor, we are Sacramento’s spinal health care experts and we want to help you undo the damage that you have done by sitting too much! We start by establishing spinal alignment through gentle adjustments, alleviate tension and promote healing in the musculature, and then focus on using holistic strengthening and stretching to rebuild stability from the embattled foundations in your core. If you are interested in finding out more about this holistic approach to spinal health care, give our office in Sacramento a call to schedule an appointment today.