How Can Poor Sitting Posture Result in Back Pain?
Blogs, / By Shi Qi Yap
How many times have you been told to “Sit up straight” or “Stop slouching” by your physiotherapist?
Today, we’ll be discussing how a poor sitting posture can result in back pain.
What is the correct sitting posture?
Correct sitting posture refers to which your spine bones are correctly aligned, resulting in minimal strain on the spine muscles and other structures like ligaments and discs.
While you may think it’s really hard to maintain a proper posture all the time, being aware of your daily postural habits can make a huge difference in the right direction.
Common ways of how poor posture can result in back pain
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Sitting for Extended Periods of Time
Your body is designed to be moving, but the reality is that many of us spend too much time sitting in front of the desk. Prolonged sitting causes your muscles to become weaker and overstretched which can lead to muscle fatigue, stiffness and pain.
Besides, prolonged siting can interfere with circulation of blood to the lower body which decreases the amount of oxygen being delivered to the muscle and nerve and finally lead to pain.
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Slouching While Seated
Most of us don’t sit properly and tend to slouch while seated. In a slouch position, your muscles can’t work efficiently and rely more on passive structures for stability, including spinal bone, ligaments or discs. This can cause your back pain.
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Legs crossed / leaning body on one side
Several studies have revealed that sitting with legs crossed can cause spinal deformities including scoliosis. This is because sitting with legs crossed puts your weight leaning on one side and your spine is not neutrally aligned is this posture. Over time, you may start to develop muscle imbalance on you back, hip and buttock muscles. Muscle imbalances is the leading cause of chronic back pain cases.
We have posted a short video ‘Simple Exercises for Butt pain’ on our instagram and youtube. Click here to watch.
However, we recommend seeing a doctor or physiotherapist as they will determine the root cause of your condition and treat you accordingly. If you have any more questions or would like our physiotherapists to assess or treat your buttock pain, feel free to drop us a question, talk to us, or fill in the form below. Do check out our Instagram page too.
Yap Shi Qi
Rehab Therapist
Shi Qi graduated with Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons), awarded by Anglia Ruskin University, UK. Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP®). She practiced as a physiotherapist in a Malaysian private physiotherapy center with a special interest in musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation. Her previous experience inspired her to combine active approach along with patients’ education to optimize the rehabilitation outcome in sports-related injuries and postural pain.
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, singing, and playing piano.