DIET | DETECTIVE^®

We spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer, television, desk, kitchen table, video game, etc. Our children are spending even more time sitting down than we did as children. If you don't think this is leading to a major health problem, I can assure you otherwise. The results of slumping can be serious including disc surgery and pain and numbness running down the arms and/or legs.

You can easily prevent this from happening.

When you sit follow a few simple rules:

Place your feet flat on the floor.
Sit evenly on your sitz bones (if you sit down, put your hands under your hips and rock side to side, you should be able to feel them).Don't collapse your chest. Lift it forward and up.
Relax your shoulders down.
Keep your head back over your shoulders.
Lengthen the back of your neck (in other words keep your chin down).
Reach the top of your head to the ceiling.

A lumbar support pillow in the small of the back can help keep you sitting properly throughout the workday. (A lumbar support pillow is a small half-rounded pillow that fits over your chair and keeps your lower back from slouching. They can be found in any back store, ergonomics supply catalog or at your local physical therapists office.) Keep in mind, that sitting up straight should feel at ease when all you've done everything right.  Also, you might want to try using a pillow-- length wise behind you--which will allow you to have some back support while maintaining your sternum over your pelvis.

Don't sit for prolonged periods of time. Get up and move around. We were not meant to be sedentary. Last comment: Sitting up straight makes you feel better and gives you a brighter outlook on life.

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