Sitting on the floor is considered by some experts to be a natural position that promotes strength, flexibility, and wellness.
Millions of people in the US suffer from back pain each day. In fact, back pain is so prevalent, the condition is estimated to cost the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year in healthcare costs. Yes, billions of dollars!
For some people the cause of their back pain remains elusive but many can trace it to their daily routine. Spending the majority of your waking hours sitting at a computer in a lousy desk chair can easily cause your lower back to seize up. What’s the solution? Some experts are saying it’s getting out of it and returning to a childlike position.
Sitting on the floor might help your back act as nature intended
When you sit on a surface that’s cushioned, you often don’t maintain your spine in a static position for very long. Some experts are now saying sitting crossed-legged on the floor helps you better keep your spine in its natural position.
Sitting with your legs crossed stretches your hips out, as well as your legs and pelvis. This sitting position is used by people in many cultures around the world from Turkey to Korea, Japan, and beyond, and can even be found in yoga’s vast lexicon of bodily contortions. When you sit cross-legged on the floor, you may also help improve your lower-back strength and thereby help reduce your chances of developing continual back pain over time.
How chairs cause problems
Your chair may seem to be an innocent piece of mundane office equipment but don’t be fooled. This furniture isn’t to be underestimated!
According to some research, the lumbar lordosis, that spot just above your bum that curves inwards, gets flattened a bit when you sit in a chair. This can in turn cause problems.
Related: How to Know If You Have Arthritis
This being said, when you sit on the floor experts say it’s important that you sit with something called a lordotic lumbar curve. In other words, don’t slouch and make sure you sit up straight.
The key to good sitting
Whether you sit on the floor, the countertop, or in a chair, the key is to change things up often. Don’t sit for hours on end, (even if your shows are amazing or you have endless days of work to complete). Get up every twenty minutes or so and move around. Change your sitting position to give new parts of your body a rest and to keep your blood flowing. Stretch things out so you don’t get too stiff.
Experts recommend you go for a five-minute stroll every half hour to avoid too much sedentary time.
And remember to get your recommended 30 minutes of cardio exercise per day, as this can make a big difference. (Is your neck seizing up from too much screen time? Go for a jog!)
For more on this topic and all types of sitting advice, click here.
photo credits: Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com
