Sitting is taken into account a method to loosen up after an extended day in your feet. But for many individuals, sitting for any length of time is painful. This aggravates the back pain as a substitute of reducing it.
What causes lower back pain when sitting?
Although the particular reason for back pain cannot often be identified, muscle strain might be probably the most common cause. Although there isn’t any evidence from clinical studies that sitting causes more spasms, people often report back muscles becoming tighter and more painful after sitting for long periods of time.
A protracted automobile ride is a typical example. Sometimes people attribute the pain to bumps and jolts on the road, but often the stress of sitting is what causes the issue.
Herniated discs
A herniated disc refers to an issue with considered one of the discs that act as pads between the vertebrae in your back. In particular, a disc can herniate, meaning it develops a bulge that may pinch a close-by spinal nerve, causing pain.
“There have been few studies that have measured the amount of stress on the discs,” says Dr. Atlas. “Not surprisingly, the pressure is lowest when you lie down.” But once you stand, there may be more pressure on the discs than if you end up sitting.
“In fact, if I come into the exam room and a patient is standing instead of sitting, I'm much more suspicious that the person has a herniated disc,” he says.
Sciatica
Disc problems alone could cause back pain, but when the pain moves to the legs, it may be nerve pain often called sciatica. Sciatica sometimes occurs when a herniated disc pinches considered one of your sciatic nerves. These are the longest nerves in your body, running from the lower back to every leg.
People with sciatica typically report a burning pain within the lower back, leg, and sometimes the foot.
Lower back pain is reduced when sitting.
It is a typical condition in older women that’s relieved by sitting. This is a style of lower back arthritis called spinal stenosis.
“In cases where the arthritis is severe enough to pinch the nerves going down the hips and legs, people often report that standing makes the pain better than sitting. This is because when you sit, So you bend forward a little bit in the lower back, and that can stretch the arthritic bones enough to temporarily relieve the pain,” says Dr. Atlas. Pain may be relieved once you bend forward using a shopping cart or walker.
When to see a health care providerHowever, if the pain doesn’t improve after just a few weeks of modifying your activity, you need to see a health care provider. (It may take 4 to 6 weeks to see improvement in sciatica from a herniated disc.) You should see a health care provider straight away in case your pain could be very severe, if it gets higher but comes back, or if it occurs after an injury — akin to falling down stairs, being in a automobile accident, or Slip on the screws. Snow's Dr. Atlas says it's different from back pain that starts during regular movement. In other words, in case your back hurts once you bend over to tie your shoe, that's not an injury. |
How to alleviate pain
If you're experiencing back pain when sitting, it’s possible you’ll be encouraged to lie down after which slowly try to sit down back up, says Dr. Atlas. But that is the incorrect way. You should lie all the way down to relieve the pain, however the goal needs to be not to return to sitting, but to regain the flexibility to face and move.
“The goal is not to sit in a chair. The goal is to start moving. Walking is better than sitting,” he says. When it involves relieving pain, movement is commonly one of the best medicine.
Treatment of back pain
If you possibly can't manage your back pain on your personal and decide to see a health care provider, he or she’s going to likely prescribe a course of treatment you can do at home.
“There has been an overemphasis on medical interventions and treatments for back pain that don't focus on medications,” says Dr. Atlas. “There is also a growing appreciation that drugs like acetaminophen also have risks, especially in older adults.”
A typical course of treatment begins with activity modification, progressing to exercise. “For patients with severe symptoms, the first line of therapy may be manual therapy, such as massage, chiropractic, or physical therapy,” says Dr. Atlas.
Prevention of problems
The best method to avoid back pain is movement. Regular physical activity can strengthen the back to cut back future episodes of pain. Exercises should give attention to constructing strength and improving range of motion – in addition to ensuring balance on either side of the body, as back pain can start when one a part of the body is stronger than the opposite.
Also, avoid prolonged sitting at any time when possible. If you sit at a desk within the office all day, rise up periodically — at the very least every half-hour — and walk around. Walk to get a drink of water or get your mail. Take breaks throughout the day to avoid future pain.
Simple exercises for a healthy back.
Lie in your back with each knees bent. Pull one knee toward your chest and hold for five to 10 seconds. Return to starting position. Repeat with the opposite leg. Do this 5 to 10 times with each leg.
Lie in your back with each knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Pull each knees toward your chest and hold for five to 10 seconds. Return to starting position. Do this 5 to 10 times.
Lie in your back with each knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Gently lower your back to the ground and hold for five to 10 seconds, then loosen up. Do this 5 to 10 times.
Lie face down on the ground, your bed, or an exercise mat. Bend your torso upwards and rest your weight in your arms. Gently arch your back and hold for 10 seconds, then loosen up. Repeat 5 to 10 times.
Start in your hands and knees. Lift and straighten one leg, slowly extending it back without lifting it above the extent of your body. Hold the position for five seconds. Do this 5 to 10 times with each leg.
Lie in your back with each knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Gently lift your hips 4 to six inches off the ground, hold for five seconds, and return to the starting position. Do this 5 to 10 times.
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