Sitting is one daily activity that many of us take completely for granted. At least, we do until we start to feel pain when we’re sitting.
Having pain while sitting down can be detrimental in many ways. For one thing, it can make the 10 hours per day that most of us sit an agonizing experience. This pain can also make it harder to get work done or enjoy spending time with our loved ones.
Often, pain when sitting is a result of poor sitting posture, and a physical therapist can help you learn how to improve your sitting posture and reduce your pain.
These three posture tips can help decrease your pain when sitting
Physical therapists are experts in the structures that make up the human musculoskeletal system. This includes structures that are involved in sitting, such as the hips and knees. Your therapist can help you learn ways to improve your sitting posture that can lead to less pain when sitting.
A few of the tips that your physical therapist could give you include:
- Sit up straight — This tip is something of a misnomer. The reality is that you should sit upright. But there should also be a slight forward curve in your neck. Your middle back should have a slight backward curve, and the lower back should have a slight forward curve. These curves are vital to maintaining an upright posture when sitting.
- Distribute your weight evenly — Your weight rests on your hips, buttocks and thighs while you’re sitting. Many of us tend to shift our weight slightly to one side when sitting. However, this action puts more strain on the structures on that side of your body. The added strain can trigger pain. That’s why your therapist will recommend making sure your weight is distributed evenly when you’re sitting down.
- Keep knees bent at 90 degrees — Poor knee positioning can also lead to discomfort when sitting. If your knees are too bent, they’ll be supporting too much of your weight. Conversely, your knees won’t be supporting enough of your weight if they aren’t bent enough. The best way to ensure your knees are positioned correctly is to keep them bent at about 90 degrees.
Peak Performance is ready to help treat your pain when sitting
Our Peak Performance team is primed to help people who are feeling pain when sitting. We can perform a free screening to pinpoint exactly what is causing your pain. Additionally, our physical therapists excel at constructing therapy plans that are personalized to your needs. A few of the therapy methods your plan could include are:
- Ergonomic training
- Therapeutic exercises
- Myofascial release
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
- Joint mobilization
- Virtual therapy
Contact us today for more information about how we can treat your pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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