MICHIGAN IN MOTION
  • HOME
  • About Us
    • Bobbi Goodwine, PT, DPT, OMPT, CLT
    • Jill Zueski, PT, DPT, CFC
    • Scott Jones, PT, DPT, AT, ATC
    • Jim Storhok, PT, DPT
    • Susie Phillips, MPT
    • Alicia Naccarato, PT, DPT, CLT
    • Russell DiMaggio, PTA
  • Our Services
    • Physical Therapy Evaluation
    • Post Operative Care
    • Neck & Back Pain, Joint Sprains & Strains
    • PWR! Parkinson Wellness Recovery
    • Vertigo, Balance Retraining & Vestibular Rehab
    • TMJ, Headaches, Face Pain
    • Lymphedema and CDT
    • Sports Injuries
    • General Conditioning - Post Covid Strengthening
    • Functional Dry Needling
    • Workers Comp & Work Conditioning
    • Auto Accidents
    • Augmented Soft Tissue Manipulation (ASTYM)
    • Fall Prevention
  • Testimonials
  • MIMPT Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

Sitting Is The New Smoking

4/23/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sitting Is The New Smoking: 4 Simple Steps For Sitting Longer With Less Pain
​
One of the most frequent activities that our patients engage in is prolonged sitting. Whether it's sitting through long conference calls, school activities, or even watching evening TV, we as a society, sit for far too long.

Believe it or not, sitting is one of the most stressful things you can do to your neck and lower back. Improper sitting and poor posture can increase your risk for developing or exacerbating lower back pain which can lead to neck and shoulder pain as well.

Over the years I’ve developed a sequence of things to remember in order to maintain good posture while sitting. 

Step 1: Make a lumbar roll. Take a bath towel and fold it lengthwise in half. Take that and roll it from one end to the other until you have a log shape. Secure the ends with a rubber band to keep it from unraveling.

Step 2: When you sit in your chair, make sure you get your bottom all the way back into the crack of the chair. If you have any space between your bottom and the back of the chair, you are almost sure to slump.

Step 3: While keeping your bottom in the crack of the chair, lean forward and take the lumbar roll and place it across your lower back, in the small of your back, around where your belt would be. 

Step 4: Do your best to maintain an upright posture with your tummy muscles tight. As I always tell my patients, “Suck in your tummy muscles, without holding your breath”. 

You may notice that your neck and shoulders feel more relaxed when your lower back is in a good position. I can’t tell you how many times people have come back to the office with reports of reduced neck and shoulder pain once they fix how they are sitting. 

Keep in mind that the type of chair you’re sitting in makes a huge difference as well. Try to avoid oversized, plush furniture and try to sit on firmer surfaces. 

If you are shorter in stature, you may need to put a pillow behind your back if you’re unable to get your bottom to the back of the chair without your feet coming off the floor. If that’s you, put the pillow behind you first, then place the lumbar roll between the pillow and the small of your back. 

Keep in mind that the lumbar roll can be used anytime you sit, including while you’re driving. It can come in particularly handy for those long road trips.

Remember, with this technique as with anything, consistency is key. I hope these steps help! As always, if you have any difficulty sitting or are struggling with low back pain, call our office for a consultation. We’d be happy to help!
Author Jim Storhok, PT, DPT

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2025
    October 2024
    May 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    May 2023
    April 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    September 2021

    Categories

    All
    Adherence To HEP
    Ankkylosing Spondylitis
    Arthritis
    Athlete
    Back Pain
    Balance
    Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
    BPPV
    Compliance
    Cool Down Ideas
    Coordination
    Cost-Effective Care
    Dizziness
    Dry Needle
    Education
    Endurance
    Ergonomic
    Exercise
    Face Pain
    Fall
    Flexibility
    Function
    Headaches
    Healthcare Team
    Hiking
    Holistic Approach
    Home Exercise Program
    Improve Function
    Injury
    Injury Prevention
    Jaw Pain
    Long-Term Health Benefits
    Maintain Mobility
    Mobility
    Move Better
    Movement Dysfunction
    Movement Experts
    Muscle Pain
    Neck Pain
    Overtraining
    Pain Management
    Pain Relief
    Parkinson's Disease
    Physical Activity
    Physical Therapy Month
    Postural Breaks
    Posture
    PREVENTION
    Preventive Medicine
    Quality Of Life
    Range Of Motion
    Recovery
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Rotator Cuff
    Running
    Safety First
    Shoulder
    Sitting
    Sports Injury
    Stay Active
    Stay Healthy
    Stiff Joints
    Strength
    Summer
    Swimming
    Tips
    Tmj
    Treatment
    Trigger Points
    Vertigo
    Walking
    Warm Up Ideas
    WEEKEND WARRIORS
    Work Injury
    Work Station

    RSS Feed

​ADDRESS:

52900 Garfield Rd
​
Macomb MI 48042
 


DIRECTIONS

Michigan In Motion Physical Therapy

​What our patients are saying...

​Phone: (586) 991-1399 

Fax: (586) 218-3111

Call Now

    Subscribe to our blog 

Submit
  • HOME
  • About Us
    • Bobbi Goodwine, PT, DPT, OMPT, CLT
    • Jill Zueski, PT, DPT, CFC
    • Scott Jones, PT, DPT, AT, ATC
    • Jim Storhok, PT, DPT
    • Susie Phillips, MPT
    • Alicia Naccarato, PT, DPT, CLT
    • Russell DiMaggio, PTA
  • Our Services
    • Physical Therapy Evaluation
    • Post Operative Care
    • Neck & Back Pain, Joint Sprains & Strains
    • PWR! Parkinson Wellness Recovery
    • Vertigo, Balance Retraining & Vestibular Rehab
    • TMJ, Headaches, Face Pain
    • Lymphedema and CDT
    • Sports Injuries
    • General Conditioning - Post Covid Strengthening
    • Functional Dry Needling
    • Workers Comp & Work Conditioning
    • Auto Accidents
    • Augmented Soft Tissue Manipulation (ASTYM)
    • Fall Prevention
  • Testimonials
  • MIMPT Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact Us