Posted on 10/07/2024 7:58:30 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study showed that reducing daily sitting prevented back pain from worsening over six months. The result strengthens the current understanding of the link between activity and back pain as well as the mechanisms related to back pain.
Intuitively, it is easy to think that reducing sitting would help with back pain, but previous research data is surprisingly scarce. The study investigated whether reducing daily sitting could prevent or relieve back pain among overweight or obese adults who spend the majority of their days sitting.
The participants were able to reduce their sitting by 40 min/day, on average, during the six-month study.
"Our participants were quite normal middle-aged adults, who sat a great deal, exercised little, and had gained some extra weight. These factors not only increase the risk for cardiovascular disease but also for back pain," says Jooa Norha
The researchers also examined potential mechanisms behind the prevention of back pain.
"However, we did not observe that the changes in back pain were related to changes in the fattiness or glucose metabolism of the back muscles," Norha says.
Individuals with back pain have excessive fat deposits within the back muscles, and impaired glucose metabolism, or insulin sensitivity, can predispose to pain. Nevertheless, back pain can be prevented or relieved even if no improvements in the muscle composition or metabolism take place.
The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PET imaging that is based on a radioactive tracer to measure the back muscles.
The researchers wish to remind people that switching between postures is more important than only looking for the perfect posture.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
(Standing helps)
Indeed!!!
Walking is even better for folks who are still ambulatory.
Anything that gets a body up... helps with health.
I’m going to have to lay down and think about this.
That’s how I use the 40 minutes.
It makes a difference!
What if I lay down more?
BKMK
I’ve been sitting more than I used to because of chronic pain in my ankle. The lack of exercise hasn’t been good for me.
Saturday, I moved wrong and blew out my back. I heard the loud POP and the pain has been almost unbearable. I have a doctor’s appointment this morning. Right now, I’m sitting while leaning slightly forward because it’s the most comfortable position I can find but the pain is still bringing tears to my eyes. I either broke my spine or have a severely slipped disc.
The one thing that helped me the most was to stop using my Ottoman and sit with both feet flat on the floor. I don’t remember where I got that info, but it works for me.
I work part-time in quasi-retirement. Most of it is at home, so I stand up at least half of that time at my standup desk. And I try to walk a mile around the neighborhood everyday. If it's a day I go to the office and I have to be there all day, then I have to sit down at a desk and find myself more tired when I come home than the days I stand up a lot.
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