Telly Addict?: Could watching the soaps be harmful to your back?

Do you enjoying relaxing in front of the TV after a hards days work? Could this seemingly innocent past time be hazardous to your health and put you at risk of back and neck pain?

Here at Younger Chiropractic Clinic, we see daily the effects of prolonged sitting.

While patients are becoming more and more aware of protecting themselves from lower back pain at work it is equally important to remember looking after your back while relaxing after a hard day at the office.

Studies show that sitting for prolonged periods of time will weaken the core muscles responsible for supporting the lower back. When these muscles become weak and stressed they can often fail to support the underlying joints and discs and thus lead to injury and pain.

So what can we do about this?

Some simple easy to remember advice can help improve the likelihood of a painful episode of low back pain[list style=”info”]

• Sit up straight- Slumping increases stress on the structures of the low back and can lead to injury
• Keep supported-keep as much of your body in contact with the sofa allowing the pressure to be taken away from the body
• Stand up!- taking regular breaks from the TV will keep the smaller core muscles within the back active and reduce the risk of posture related injury [/list]

Remember that pain is a good indicator that your body is telling you something maybe wrong. Younger Chiropractic Clinic is always on hand to answer any questions you may have regarding posture and lifestyle.