Which sitting posture is dangerous for your spine?

The effects of sitting on the spine, and sitting positions to avoid.

Prolonged sitting puts more strain on the muscles and spine than standing. Currently, the population, from young adults to working-age individuals, is increasingly prone to spinal disorders. A major cause is often inappropriate daily habits, especially incorrect sitting posture, which increases the risk to spinal health.

Sitting positions to avoid.

🔹 Sitting with legs crossed.

This causes weight to be concentrated on one side of the buttocks, resulting in scoliosis and curvature, particularly in the spine and pelvic area, leading to neck and back pain.

🔹 Sitting with arms crossed.

This stretches the upper back, shoulder blades, and shoulders, resulting in a hunched upper back and forward head posture. It affects the nerves supplying the arms, potentially causing muscle weakness and numbness in the hands. Furthermore, it can impact blood flow to the brain, leading to chronic headaches or migraines.

🔹 Sitting with a hunched or bent back.

Sitting in this position for long periods, such as working at a computer screen, causes muscle tension and a buildup of lactic acid, resulting in pain and stiffness in the shoulders and hips, and may even lead to spinal deformities.

🔹 Sitting on a chair without leaning against the backrest or sitting only on part of your buttocks.

This reduces the weight-bearing capacity of the body, causing the back muscles to work harder than normal and resulting in damage to the spine.

🔹 Sit on a hard surface.

The tailbone cannot move as freely as the spine. Regularly sitting on a hard surface puts excessive pressure on the spine, leading to pain.