Health Benefits of Slouching?

Okay, admit it. How many of you grew up with the admonition from your parents, "Sit up straight; Don't slouch; You'll ruin your posture?!" Well, as it turns out, mother may not have known best. Research suggests that the traditional upright position with the back at a 90-degree position in relation to the legs, most often assumed by sedentary office workers worldwide, may actually cause back pain and possible future spinal weakness or damage.

According to the researchers, the traditional "slouch" -- semi-reclined with the legs at a 135-degree angle to the spine -- is far better for the back than your parents' upright position. It seems that sitting back and slouching minimizes spinal disc compression and potential deformation.

Unfortunately, this study is unlikely to have much impact for the simple reason that office chairs are designed to promote upright seating, with its concomitant disc compression, back pain, and spinal damage. Which brings up the obvious question, "What to do?"

• Slouch a little. Any pressure you take off your intervertebral discs is good.
  
• Keep hydrated. Discs need water to maintain their plumpness, which is essential for them to perform their function as shock absorbers.
  
• Keep hydrated. Discs have no blood supply. They receive all their nutrients from the "wash of fluid" they are bathed in. If you dehydrate, less fluid is available, which mean your discs are starved of nutrients. The net result is gradual degradation of your spinal discs.
  
• Exercise your abdominal and back muscles regularly to improve your core strength. The stronger your core, the stronger your back.
  
• Stretch your back regularly – forwards, backwards, and sideways. This not only opens up the vertebrae; it also works to pump fluids into your discs helping to re-plump them.
  
• Every half hour or so, take a break from sitting. Get up and walk around for a minute or two. This keeps the back from tightening.
  
• Proper nutrition is important – particularly those nutrients that promote the growth of cartilage.
  
• Cleanse your colon regularly. Colon toxicity causes back muscles to tighten.
  
• Make sure you optimize your body's pH. A high acid diet leaches calcium from your bones.

As you can see, it isn't just about developing a more ergonomically beneficial chair, although that can be helpful. In the end, your back is only as strong as its weakest link. Do everything above and be sure and slouch a little – at least until the next study concludes the exact opposite: that you should indeed sit upright.

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