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Who said sitting was bad??????
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Who said sitting was bad?????? - February 4, 2001 5:36:00 AM
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mcap
Posts: 652
Joined: February 8, 2000
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Group:
Here is a question for you. I am hoping for controvesy.
PTs walk around and preach to the world how bad sitting is for your back. But is it really? What is this based on??
I think that the propagation of this myth resulted from Nachemson's research back in the 70s. During his studies, he determined (in vivo) that the disc pressure was higher in sitting than in standing. These experiments were not repeated because they involve inserting a catheter with a pressure sensor into someone's disc and then having them perform various activities with the catheter sticking out.
So everyone grabbed the information and began preaching to everyone about the horrors of the modern office and the consequences of sitting down [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/eek.gif[/IMG]
However, a study was performed recently that casts doubt upon this assertion. Wilk, et al. recently did a one subject study. The subject was actually one of the researchers (I don't think they could get IRB approval to use outside subjects!). But in any case their data was similar to Nachemson's EXCEPT sitting vs. standing. They found higher disc pressure in relaxed standing .5 MPa than in sitting unsupported .46MPa and than in "nonchalant" (relaxed) sitting .3MPa.
Now this study certainly had limitations but on the other hand - the equipment to collect the data was more accurate and sophisticated.
This brings me back to my point.......Why is sitting so bad???????? I would actually contend that it isn't. The fact that most people sit all day is why they associate it with pain. If everyone had to stand all day we would be hearing about how difficult it is to stand and how bad standing is for you.
Some patients are individually worse in sitting. But many are worse in standing as well. My pointis that the best thing for the spine is movement and variety. Sitting, in and of itself, is not inherently bad.
Here is the cite; Spine 1999 Apr 15;24(8):755-62. New in vivo measurements of pressures in the intervertebral disc in daily life.
Fire away people.....
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Re: Who said sitting was bad?????? - July 25, 2001 11:35:00 AM
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JLymanM
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Joined: July 24, 2001
From: Washington, DC
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Sorry, I'll not be able to provoke controversry for you. You are correct, of course. Nothing could be more benign than sitting. Why do we blindly perpetuate these myths? Increased pressure on the lower spine? How? Why would there by more pressure sitting than standing? As you suggest, it simply and obviously doesn't make sense at all. It's just embarrassing; I really worry about us sometimes.
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Re: Who said sitting was bad?????? - July 25, 2001 1:02:00 PM
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Barrett
Posts: 967
Joined: July 28, 1999
From: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
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JLyman, You say, "Nothing could be more benign than sitting."
Benign to all tissues? Are you suggesting that every pain sensitive structure in the lumbar region is placed in its most advantageous position when we sit? Doesn't sitting require length and mobility in the nervous system here that standing does not? Am I suppose to tell all my patients that hurt more while seated that they must be mistaken?
[This message has been edited by Barrett (edited July 25, 2001).]
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Re: Who said sitting was bad?????? - July 26, 2001 4:32:00 AM
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henryryry
Posts: 100
Joined: September 6, 2000
From: Brisbane, Australia.
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mcap,
as always, your posts make us think of what many (including myself) consider "common sense." I would know a few PT's who make their money teaching courses based on the fact that sitting is bad (and who would probably want to strangle you at the moment:mad [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/smile.gif[/IMG].
Jokes aside, it really would depend on what we define sitting. I have always been a big believer in that there is no one sitting position for all... some people find it more comfortable in relaxed sitting, some with their knees lower than their hips etc. Perhaps like in the recent forum discussion on lifting, sitting really depends on the person involved, the environment, the time, the stress....
But I couldn't agree with you more when you say that "The fact that most people sit all day is why they associate it with pain. If everyone had to stand all day we would be hearing about how difficult it is to stand and how bad standing is for you."
I will get this article, read it, and see if I can stir up some contraversy [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/smile.gif[/IMG]
Henry***
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Re: Who said sitting was bad?????? - July 26, 2001 8:37:00 PM
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Sebastian Asselbergs
Posts: 1191
Joined: September 29, 1999
From: Barrie, Canada
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mcap: I think not one position is worse than another, as long as it is held briefly - in other words, any posture tends to be uncomfortable if held too long. Sitting is fine, as long as one doesn't sit in the same position too long. Same in standing (I was in the army - parades hurt!) - same with sleeping postures - people move, feels good; people don't move, doesn't feel good.
I agere with your criticism of the "sitting police" - unfounded. Others?
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Re: Who said sitting was bad?????? - July 27, 2001 8:07:00 AM
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jma
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From: NY
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I agree with you Sebastain. If you stay too long in one position, you are inviting the development of a postural problem, perhaps even a derrangement.
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Re: Who said sitting was bad?????? - August 3, 2001 2:35:00 PM
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painpt
Posts: 21
Joined: March 21, 2001
From: Bethesda, MD, USA
Status: offline
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Posture is dynamic.
Every posture is the beginning of the next movement.
People are made to move constantly, even while we sleep.
Sitting, standing, what's the difference if we move constantly?
Perhaps that's why we talk about "dynamic" stabilization.
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