Have you ever experienced back pain after a long day in your office chair? A study from Canada gives us a simple explanation for why some people develop back pain while others do not, and it's all about movement.
In the study, they examined how people sit and whether their small body movements can explain why some people experience back pain from sitting for long periods of time. They studied 90 people, some with a history of back pain and some without. These individuals sat in a backless chair for one hour while their muscle activity, spine position, and pain levels were monitored. The participants were divided into two groups based on their pain levels during the experiment: those who developed pain (pain developers) and those who did not (non-pain developers). They used devices to measure the angle of the spine and muscle activity. Participants assessed their pain at several points during the hour. The researchers then compared the reports of spinal movement, muscle activity, and pain between the two groups.
The study showed that it was not the sitting position itself, but rather the lack of movement that could explain why some people developed pain. This suggests that not moving while sitting may be linked to developing pain. However, the study found no strong evidence that the specific position of the spine or the level of muscle activity directly caused back pain. Instead, the key to avoiding pain and discomfort was linked to micro-movements, the small and frequent movements over time.
Source: Transient perceived back pain induced by prolonged sitting in a backless office chair: are biomechanical factors involved?
Ryan David Greenea, Mona Freyb, Samareh Attarsharghia, John Charles Snowa, Matthew Barretta, and Diana De Carvalhoa
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At Support Design, we are passionate about everyone feeling good and believe that micro-movements during a sedentary working day can make a big difference. One of our most mobile chairs is the Relief balance chair, which has a 360-degree movable seat. Read more about Relief here.
