This may seem like a bold statement to make, but let me explain….
Over the years that I have been in practice I often treat patients for postural strain (upper back and neck pain) typically linked to sitting at ones desk, a slave to their computer as a way to make a living. More and more we are tied to sitting at a desk as a profession, or should I say a secondary effect from ones profession. The symptoms are eerily similar between patients. Stiffness to the upper back, a burning sensation to the muscles between the shoulder blades, and tension to the top of the neck at the base of the skull. Things are often tolerable in the morning and progressively get worse throughout the day. It is only when they are intolerable to patients come to my office.
Beyond treating the tight muscles, adjusting/manipulating joints that are restricted and causing discomfort, exercises are the most common recommendation and consistency encouraged. Even when someone is out of pain I recommend consistency with exercises to keep the upper back and neck loose and moving. But what about a persons position…….?
“I know I have bad posture, and I have am working on sitting up straight” is often what I hear patients say after we have helped alleviate their intolerable symptoms. Here is the catch. If you completely change your position and sit bolt upright as often is pictured in an anatomy text book, and by some miracle are able to hold this position for 8 hours of a typical work day you will likely end up in just as much discomfort. Different discomfort, but again discomfort.
The reason for the new discomfort is simple. Perfect posture we will call it, as is depicted in an anatomy text book is just another “static” position. Whether sitting slumped forward or bolt upright you are still in an immobile position. The reason you get the aching and the burning, and transient stiffness, is from lack of movement. The 24 movable joints in your spine are just that “movable”, and are designed to move. If they don’t move you end up with the symptoms or aching, sore, burning etc.
By this logic the “Perfect Posture” is all of the postures. Basically move all day long. Making a conscious effort to sit in a variety of positions and changing frequently will be the best. You don’t need to look like a robot sitting in a static perfect upright posture, but nor is this a license to slouch in every slouchy position possible, but move throughout all possible sitting postures. And if you are lucky enough to have a standing desk, then vary between sitting and standing.
Maintaining your body, and working to be pain free takes a lot of effort. It needs to be a conscious decision to move. If the goal is less discomfort, so that you can focus on the task at hand, then you will have to put in the effort.
Dr. Adam Wade
Dr. Adam Wade 