Working at a desk job or working from home can require long hours of sitting.  

Sitting is now considered as bad as smoking.  This is not only viewed this way by chiropractors but by Neurologists as well. Sitting won't necessarily give you lung cancer but it can lead to a plethora of issues if being sedentary for long periods becomes a habit.

Here are some problems that can occur when sitting for long hours at a time:

Decreased Spinal Movement: 

Our spine is locked in a stiff position when we are sitting.  Not moving the spine can lead to joints locking up and the spinal cord becoming less fluid.  

According to Nobel prize-winning neurobiologist Dr. Roger Sperry, “90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine.” Lack of spinal motion cuts the amount of nutrition the body needs. Sitting for a long time also decreases how much and how efficiently blood flows through the body. 

The brain controls everything. It sends signals down the spinal cord to the whole body and then neurons send signals back up to the brain for analysis.  It is pretty important to make sure it is healthy and functioning properly. 

Tips to reduce minimal spinal movement:

1. Get up from where you are sitting and move around. Normally, I would recommend at least take a 5 minute break and move around and stretch.  You can walk around the office, go outside and walk around the block.
2. Stretch: Bend down and touch your toes (hamstrings get really tight and short when sitting). Rotate your hips from side to side. 
3. Stretch out your forearms: Carpal Tunnel is common with desk jobs.
4. Do a few squats just to get better blood flow to the legs
5. Neck rolls and shoulder rolls: This creates better upper body blood flow
6. Get a standing desk or treadmill desk.  This will allow you to move more frequently than sitting in a chair
   
   

Exercise increases spinal movement. Spinal movement leads to better health.  Be sure to pick an exercise that you enjoy so it doesn't feel like work.  

How does poor posture lead to poor health?

Dr. Sperry found in his study that “The more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy is available for thinking, metabolism, and healing.” Distortion when it comes to the body means that it is not functioning properly.  Bad posture is distortion. 

Bad posture can decrease lung function by up to 30%. 

Lack of movement and decreased blood flow means lack of oxygen in the body.  This is why when you go to a hospital they always check your SPO2 level to see how much oxygen is in your blood.  Lack of oxygen will create difficulty for the whole body to process fluid.  This will cause an inflammatory reaction and inflammation always leads to a problem.  It may be pain, it may be loss of optimal cognitive function, heart issues, lung problems, hormonal imbalances.  The list goes on and on.  

Neck curve is important:

Chiropractors and neurosurgeons recognize that the arc in the lower cervical vertebrae (that “s” curve in the neck) plays a large part in overall spinal and body health. 

This area of the neck is called the “arch of life.” Having this curve keeps gravity off of the brain stem, spinal cord, and nerves. When we have a straight neck or our head is pushed forward or down, we begin to lose this curve and put strain on our neck and spine. 

Our community is highly reliant on computers, tablets, and cell phones.  Being on these devices for long hours not only puts a strain on your eyes but leads to bad habits like pushing your head forward, rolling your shoulders, rounding your back.  Loss of this neck arc can increase the amount of pressure head puts on the neck, ligaments, muscles and other tissues up to 30 pounds.  When the spine is stressed and pulled, it will try and align properly but continual strain will eventually pull the spine out of alignment. The neck bones protect the beginning of the spinal cord and brain.  All messages from the brain start so having added pressure on the neck can cause headaches, heart issues breathing problems and so many more issues.

Joints out of place and reduced spinal motion lead to symptoms

If our neck is straight and the arc is not in the normal position, it effects the whole body.  The neck joints are not in the proper position and need to be re-trained again.  This stress leads to so many issues:

• Headaches
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood changes
• Hormonal disruption
• Vision problems
• Blood flow restriction
• Lack of balance and coordination
  
  And so many more issues depending on where the body becomes the weakest or injured.
  
  

  Joints that are not aligned properly are called Subluxations.  How can this be prevented?

You have your homework:

Practice good posture:

1. Stand up straight

2. Keep your head pulled back

3. Relax your shoulders

4. Engage your core muscles.

What we can do:

Chiropractors are great at getting joints moving properly.  This helps your whole body move correctly and become healthier.  Dr. Amie Gregory, DC, CCEP, ANF is located in San Francisco, CA and San Carlos, CA.  She can help with neck, back, extremities and overall health.  Contact our San Francisco, CA Chiropractic office or San Carlos, CA Chiropractic office today!