Low Back Health

Building Low Back Health

Read these two statements very closely:

1. Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the entire world
2. Our “sitting based” way of life is accelerating this issue

This is the question we have for you.  If low back trouble is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and sitting is contributing to this more than ever, what is your plan to avoid becoming a statistic? 

The amount of time humans were “intended” to sit each day isn’t exactly clear however studies show that people who sit 13 hours per day double their risk of most health concerns relative to those who sit significantly less. In prehistoric times, early humans were much more active, spending a large portion of their day hunting, gathering, or moving for survival. Sitting was likely limited to periods of rest or socializing.  Our ancestors likely walked close to 16km’s per day and now the average person is walking closer to 3km’s per day. 

In modern times, where much of our work is sedentary, the amount of sitting has dramatically increased, and research suggests that sitting for long periods without movement can have negative devastating health effects. Experts recommend that for optimal health, people should aim to:

• Limit sitting time: Try to avoid sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time.
• Incorporate movement: Stand up, stretch, or walk around at least once every 30 minutes.

Sitting for prolonged periods of time can be a major cause of back pain, cause increased stress on the back, neck, arms and legs and can add a tremendous amount of pressure to the back muscles and spinal discs.

This month we encourage you to “Bullet Proof Your Spine”.  How do you do this?  We call it the “3 Legged Stool” approach.  First of all, keep your adjustments in rhythm – this helps keep the pressure off your nerves, maintains spinal alignment and movement and slows the progression of spinal degeneration.  Secondly, make sure you do your prescribed spinal exercises. These were created for you based on the deficits we saw on your x-rays and examination.  Lastly, avoid bad habits – sitting, slouching, staring down at your electronics.  

It’s a lot like dental care – teeth cleanings, brushing/flossing, and avoid sugar.

You can also join us for our live “Bullet Proof Your Spine” workshop that we are hosting on April 15th right here in our office. 

Bless you, 

Dr Matt, Dr B and the NLC Team