Do You Sit in an Office Chair All Day?

For decades, health professionals have championed the need to sit up straight when stuck in an office chair for long periods of time. The consensus being that perfectly erect posture is one of the tent poles of spinal health. Well, they may have been wrong.

Prompted by the rapidly increasing number of chronic back pain cases (back pain is now the most widely reported chronic work related injury in U.S.), a recent study using MRI imagery revealed that adhering to the recommended right angle position when seated may put excess strain on spinal disks. The straight-backed posture creates an unnecessary weight load on the spine, which can actually be more detrimental than previously expected.

The most severe damage, however, was seen in those participants that spent long hours slouched toward their knees. The forward lean dramatically elevates muscle tension, and creates dangerous friction across the spine and lower back in particular.

The same study examined subjects who sat with a slightly backward lean, forming a (roughly) 135 degree angle. Those participants who worked in the relaxed position significantly decreased tendon, muscle and spinal strain, yielding the best results. Considering the results, researchers recommend the use of seating that features a shoulder-height back rest, specifically angled to promote the more beneficial open angled posture.

Consumer Reports: Chiropractic is top rated treatment for back pain

In light of a new survey showing that chiropractic spinal manipulation is the top-rated treatment for people suffering with back pain, patients should consider a consultation with a doctor of chiropractic, says the American Chiropractic Association.
The Consumer Reports Health Rating Center released the survey results of more than 14,000 Americans.
The survey rated doctors of chiropractic as the top practitioner, with survey respondents noting that they were more likely to be "highly satisfied" with the care received from their doctor of chiropractic (59 percent) than their primary care physician (34 percent).
"For the treatment of back pain, few options are better than chiropractic," says ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. "As shown in this latest survey, chiropractic spinal manipulation is an evidence-based and effective treatment for low-back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Coupled with the high-levels of patient satisfaction, patients should turn to chiropractic as their first choice."
To compare which treatments helped most, Consumer Reports asked its subscribers to rate a comprehensive list of potential remedies along with their satisfaction with the health-care professionals they visited. Most survey respondents had tried five or six different treatments on average, and many found that their back pain interfered with their daily activities, including sleep and their sex life.
Doctors of chiropractic provide drug-free, non-invasive treatment options for many types of pain and inflammation. For example, chronic back pain, neck pain, joint pain and headaches can often be reduced with the appropriate combination of chiropractic manipulation, rehabilitative exercises and lifestyle counseling - all of which are offered by doctors of chiropractic in a patient's personalized treatment plan.

A significant amount of evidence has shown that the use of chiropractic care for certain conditions can be more effective than traditional medical care, with many patients feeling improvement shortly after their first chiropractic visit.

-Consumers Reports Magazine