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Colin_ORegan

Colin_ORegan

Brooklyn, NY
May 2006

DEC 18, 2006 10:45 AM



I hope, for your own sake, that while you read this you are not sitting up straight.

A new study using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device that is movable and does not require lying flat has shown that sitting up straight at a 90-degree angle, though preached as essential to a healthy spine, is actually the most damaging.

By measuring the spinal angles and the arrangement and height of spinal discs and movement across the positions, the radiologists found that the relaxed posture best preserved the spine’s natural shape.

Waseem Amir Bashir, from Edinburgh, lead author of the study, said: “When pressure is put on the spine it becomes squashed and misaligned. A 135-degree body-thigh sitting posture was demonstrated to be the best biomechanical sitting position, as opposed to a 90-degree posture, which most people consider normal.

“Sitting in a sound anatomic position is essential, since the strain put on the spine and its associated muscles and ligaments over time can lead to pain, deformity and chronic illness.”


The study involved 22 healthy volunteers with no history of back pain who were observed sitting for long hours in one position. Over time, as they sat they were instructed to assume three different positions:

  • slouched over a video game console
  • a 90-degree angle upright sitting position
  • a 135-degree angle reclined with feet firmly on the floor


The results showed that slouchers caused tension and pain to their lower spinal disks, but that sitting upright caused the most damage with the vertical pressure slowly forcing the back's muscles and disks out of line. It is best for long time back health for office workers or others who spend a great deal of time in a sitting position to find a chair that provides full support to the spine and allows reclined sitting. It would be best if it came with a cup-holder too.

Employers should note that fitting your employees with healthy orthopedic chairs would save money on sick days.

Back pain is the cause of one-in-six days off work and about 80 percent of Britons are expected to suffer from it at some point. Office workers and school children may stave off future back problems by correcting their sitting posture and finding a chair that allows them to recline, Dr Bashir said.

He added: “We were not created to sit down for long hours, but somehow modern life requires the vast majority of the global population to work in a seated position, The best position for our backs is arguably lying down, but this is hardly practical.”

StarBelliedBoy

StarBelliedBoy

Philadelphia, PA
December 2003

DEC 18, 2006 06:07 PM

This does not surprise me a bit. It's pretty damn uncomfortable to sit perfectly straight for any period of time. Pain is never a good sign.

Bicycle_Samurai

Bicycle_Samurai

York, ON
September 2003

DEC 18, 2006 06:22 PM

I think we *should* be allowed to lay down at work. Fuck it.

Less lay-offs! More lay-downs!

MrStitches

MrStitches

Brooklyn, NY
November 2003

DEC 18, 2006 06:29 PM

TheWorriedSloth said:
I think we *should* be allowed to lay down at work. Fuck it.

Less lay-offs! More lay-downs!



Shouldn't be hard to attach a flat LCD monitor to your ceiling. And you can lie down and type with your keyboard on your lap.

Callahan

Callahan

Seattle, WA
February 2005

DEC 18, 2006 08:07 PM

And while no studies have been performed yet, anecdotal evidence suggests that smoking weed is now considered excellent for your posture/spinal health.

Stompbox

Stompbox

West Des Moines, IA
February 2006

DEC 18, 2006 08:25 PM

Je-sus fuck. I'm not eating vegetables anymore either.

malkav11

malkav11

Saint Paul, MN
July 2003

DEC 18, 2006 08:30 PM

Well, that's good to hear. 'cause I've never sat up straight unless I was paying attention to my posture....and I tend to flop right back out of it the moment I stop paying attention.

apologees

apologees

Antarctica
February 2003

DEC 18, 2006 08:34 PM

science shmience, what do the chiropractors say?
tongue

Helly

Helly

Australia
December 2004

DEC 18, 2006 10:35 PM

MrStitches said:

TheWorriedSloth said:
I think we *should* be allowed to lay down at work. Fuck it.

Less lay-offs! More lay-downs!



Shouldn't be hard to attach a flat LCD monitor to your ceiling. And you can lie down and type with your keyboard on your lap.



I am gonna suggest that. They didn't buy my powernap suggestion though frown

MrStitches

MrStitches

Brooklyn, NY
November 2003

DEC 18, 2006 10:46 PM

apologees said:
science shmience, what do the chiropractors say?
tongue



They say they're going to have to see you twice a week for six years.

DCruz

DCruz

Montreal-nord, QC
November 2006

DEC 19, 2006 08:23 AM

perfect ! I've never sat "correctly" all my life I think... most of the time I'm either leaning on my desk or reclined on my chair... quite a nice chair I have though, as you may see in my pic biggrin

Libby

Libby

SUICIDEGIRL

I'm lost

DEC 19, 2006 09:23 AM

i knew that was crap all along. That's why I never corrected my slouching problem....

And this crap about smoking being bad too.... HA!

MrStitches

MrStitches

Brooklyn, NY
November 2003

DEC 19, 2006 01:43 PM

Libby said:
i knew that was crap all along. That's why I never corrected my slouching problem....

And this crap about smoking being bad too.... HA!



Smoking is just exercise for your lungs. If you don't give them a good workout every hour or so, they atrophy.

neverender

neverender

Pleasanton, CA
January 2003

DEC 19, 2006 01:45 PM

MrStitches said:

TheWorriedSloth said:
I think we *should* be allowed to lay down at work. Fuck it.

Less lay-offs! More lay-downs!



Shouldn't be hard to attach a flat LCD monitor to your ceiling. And you can lie down and type with your keyboard on your lap.



i have that same exact setup at home for when im watching...nevermind.

saltonsea

saltonsea

Toronto, ON
July 2004

DEC 19, 2006 06:42 PM


score one for me