"To Fix That Pain in Your Back, You Might Have To Change The Way You Sit"
This is a very informative article on how incorrect posture when sitting can lead to back pain, neck pain, and significant damage of the spine. Bad posture when sitting can cause disc herniation in the lumbar and cervical regions, as well as other spinal injuries. This articles discusses how to correct sitting posture to foster a healthy spine and reduce back or neck pain. Non-industrialized societies with very low incidences of back pain or spinal injury are studied to understand how they sit differently than people in industrialized societies. It turns out there are big differences. Esther Gokhale also discusses this topic in detail in her book, 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back.
WBUR News, by Michaeleen Doucleff (Copyright NPR)
"My back hurts when I sit down.
It's been going on for 10 years. It really doesn't matter where I am — at work, at a restaurant, even on our couch at home. My lower back screams, "Stop sitting!"
To try to reduce the pain, I bought a kneeling chair at work. Then I got a standing desk. Then I went back to a regular chair because standing became painful.
I've seen physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons and pain specialists. I've mastered Pilates, increased flexibility and strengthened muscles..."