Lower back pain is most common in elderly people. Also, it can happen to anyone for different reasons. However, it creates severe pain while sitting. Because sitting exaggerates the pain to the lower parts of the body.
Dr. Steven J Atlas said, There is a disc that acts as a pad between your vertebrae in the lower back of the body. Particularly when this disc becomes herniated it creates a bulge. This bulge pinches the nearby spinal nerve to cause pain that makes your sitting uncomfortable.
Now, how to sit with lower back pain? Our medical experts advised some tips which can be helpful for sitting with lower back pain. We have explained these tips with some images so that you can easily understand the posture.
Is it Ok to Sit With Lower Back Pain?
Sitting with lower back pain increases the pain. Experts suggest not to sit for a long time but sit for a short period of time about a maximum of 10-15 minutes.
Standing position may reduce back pain but not cure it. It may improve the posture by taking the pressure off the neck and lower back but never fix the bulging disc. Therefore what is the permanent sitting solution? The solution is to maintain the sitting positions as described below.
How to Sit With Lower Back Pain
How to sit with lower back pain? Is it possible to sit with lower back pain? Yes, there are ways to sit with lower back pain by maintaining some medically proven sitting position. Otherwise, you can purchase a seat Cushion for Lower Back Pain that will support your lower back. Now let’s dive into the sitting positions.
Make the Sitting Angle Right
When you sit on the chair your lower back becomes hollow. The upper back is supported by the backrest but the lower back has no support. This position makes the disc bulge to create pain. Concentrate on your back angle and knee angle to make the sitting position right.
Backrest Angle
Make sure the chair you use is reclined at least 100 degrees. This can balance your upper and lower back to reduce pressure on the vertebrae disc. Don’t slouch or hunch when sitting, as these postures compress the spinal cord and force huge pressure on the back.
Knee Angle
Knee angle also creates pressure on the back but if you maintain the correct posture you can beat the lower back pain. Here are the rules to obey while sitting on a chair.
- Don’t put one leg over another as it imbalances the sitting posture that creates more pain.
- Try to keep your knees bent at 90 degrees as full folding legs can impact the lower joints.
- Keep both of the feet flat on the ground for a parallel balance.
Use the Armchair
Use the arm of the chair to reduce the pressure of the vertebrae disc. If you put your hands on the arms of the chair it decreases 10% of the weight of the spinal cord.
Reclined Sitting Position
When you are sitting for active work, you should set your backrest angle between 100-110 degrees. For passive work, set your backrest to a 135-degree angle. A study shows that these angles reduce the amount of pressure on the spine.
Declined Sitting Position
In this position set your backrest at a 20-degree angle to make a forward sitting position. According to A.C Mandal’s study, a declined position reduces lower back fatigue by maintaining balance.
Supine Sitting
It means sitting horizontally facing up and down. You can lie back straight with your face up and hands in a straight bending position. This posture also helps to reduce pressure on spinal discs.
Seat Cushion
Using a seat cushion can be greatly effective to comfort your seating position. Use it at the back of the lower part of the body. It can support the hollow part and can distribute the pressure to reduce the pain.
Moreover, it helps to increase blood circulation and minimize numbness. In the case of using a seat cushion, we recommend using the Comfilife Gel Seat Cushion as it is the best seat cushion according to its user review.
Use the Seat Cushion Everywhere
A seat cushion is a lightweight foam seat with a particular design that maintains your balance when you sit on a chair. There are different seat cushions for different types of seats.
Such as the cushion you have is perfect for your desk chair but may not be suitable for a car seat. That’s why you should use several seat cushions for different chairs.
Use a Chair With a Backrest
Using the cushion on a chair with a backrest helps to get more support to your lower back. It will help to improve posture and eliminate pressure on your spine and pelvis. Also, adjust the height of the chair to make your foot parallel to the floor.
Don’t Use Anything With the Cushion
Only use the cushion on the seat, nothing else to make it higher. Because it may destroy the balance the cushion creates. However, if you need extra height, purchase a thicker cushion. Avoid adding pillows or padding to the seat cushion.
Add Ice or Hot Packs
There is a gap at one side of the cushion, use that gap to add flat ice or hot pack for therapy. Some cushions come with gel, you can make it cold or hot before sitting on the cushion.
Conclusion
As a health writer expert, I know how painful it is for you to sit and move. We have interviewed some medical experts regarding back pain issues. Why does it happen and how to sit with lower back pain? The main suggestion is to keep doing some prescribed regular exercise instead of medication.
At the same time maintaining these sitting positions and using the seat cushions everywhere can help you to sit comfortably with lower back pain. However, If you like this information, share your knowledge with others to help them to comply with their lower back pain.
