Dr. George L. Dixon - "Talking Fitness"

TO SIT IS HUMAN-- NOT!

Humans are constructed to lie down or stand up. It's the sitting which brings us the second most common human ailment, back ache. (the first? Dental cavities) Well, what an unpleasant surprise this is, Dr. Dixon. You mean sitting while on the phone at home, while eating; you can't mean that two hours each day so comfortably watching TV!!!! Yes. But especially sitting at the computer, typewriter, drafting board, sewing machine, on and on.( Those who earn their bread sitting are still reading this article).

The problem is that disc and bone pressure is up about 40% in the unnatural position of sitting. Blood flow to those same parts and muscles is decreased. When you sit your back is curved backward, the reverse of swaybacked. Mild swayback is normal, and disc pressure is about at its lowest. In that chair that doesn't fit, the phone tucked under one side of your ear with your neck bent way over to keep it from escaping, you are steadily destroying yourself. The chair must allow your thighs to be parallel to the ground, your arms supported and fairly near you sides. Hands and wrists in quite a straight line. That adjustable chair back is curved to fit exactly into your swayback, so move it and you so it fits you better, you thought it didn't matter. You should consider an earphone telephone attachment for that neck and shoulder pain.

Now, there is another part of sitting. NOT sitting. Just as important. Get up for mini-breaks at least three times every hour. Dance around your chair, arms overhead, 2-3 minutes. Whoop and holler if you can and may.

When you don't need to sit, spend less and less time doing so. Your bones, muscles, discs and all your parts are meant to move and they gain circulation by moving, not by sitting. (Smoking decreases disc blood flow!)

We will not take up the matter of stress today, but you all know that job and family stresses only add to back pain. Sit less and sit better and help the part of the problems you can.

More help is available in "Exercise a la Carte", here, at your bookstore or call 800-624-4952.