How a Sedentary Workplace Effects Your Spine

Over the past fifty years, we have seen the greatest growth in postural spinal complaints (such as low back pain) since the Industrial Revolution. From 1750-1830 the world leaped forward as machines aided mankind in countless and profound ways. However, one of the unintended consequences of all that immense progress was the creation of the sedentary workplace.

Sitting or standing at machines, in factories and mills every day for long hours, created a whole new set of spinal problems because our bodies are designed to move. Every joint, muscle, ligament, tendon and disc requires movement to maintain proper function and health. When we sit day after day in the same position, our spines begin to adapt to that posture and actually change their original postural shape. On a daily basis in my practice I hear my patients talk about the challenges they face hunched over their computers at their desks. They commonly report low back pain, neck and back stiffness, difficulty getting up from seated position, leg cramps, tingling in the hands and feet, wrist pain, headaches and chronic muscle spasm.

How Can Chiropractic Care Help?

If these distorted postural changes are left untreated they are likely to create a permanent pattern. Fortunately, these problems can be helped significantly with proper chiropractic care.  I begin with specific spinal adjustments to reverse this progression into dysfunction. Then we support these corrective adjustments with massage therapy, stretching and ergonomic modifications to the work station (chairs, keyboards and monitors).

Let’s face it, computer usage is only going to increase in the future.  Knowing this makes it absolutely necessary that we consider the ramifications. Our health and physical well-being really are at stake. Luckily, we have the means to protect and support our bodies’ postural health during this age of the sedentary workplace. And that means chiropractic care, my friends!