Sitting Posture Causes Back and Shoulder Pain Without Realizing It!

Back pain typically results from muscle inflammation, often caused by lifting heavy objects, sitting at a desk for long hours, wearing high heels for extended periods, reaching or twisting improperly to grab objects, over-exercising, and poor sitting posture. Poor posture can lead to discomfort and cause muscle deformities.

If you’re sitting like this while working, it might be contributing to chronic back pain:

1. Sitting with only part of your seat occupied: Sitting on just half of the seat, without fully supporting your back, can cause slouching and make your back muscles work harder, as your hips don’t bear the full weight.
2. Slouching: Sitting in a slouched position causes the spine to curve. If you remain in this position for long periods without moving, your muscles can become stiff due to lactic acid buildup, leading to constant fatigue and permanent spinal deformity.
3. Crossing your legs: Putting weight on one leg restricts blood flow, causing discomfort and muscle imbalance. It may also lead to spinal curvature and nerve problems, potentially causing a herniated disc.
4. Sitting cross-legged: This can cause numbness, especially in overweight individuals or those with pre-existing bone conditions, increasing the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
5. Sitting on one leg: This disrupts blood circulation and can lead to hip and spinal misalignment due to the imbalance between the legs.
6. Typing on a laptop on your lap: Having the keyboard and screen too low forces you to hunch over, causing neck and back pain without realizing it.

These back pain symptoms usually improve and resolve within 2-4 weeks. However, if the pain persists for more than 4 weeks and is accompanied by these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor promptly:

• Chronic back pain lasting over 4 weeks
• Numbness or weakness in the legs
• Pain radiating from the back down to the legs and feet

For mild cases, back pain can be alleviated through medication, rest, and physical therapy. However, if the pain lasts longer than 4 weeks, it should not be ignored, as it may be a sign of a more serious spinal condition.

Source: Sikarin