Here in our Doctors on Liens blog posts and in our Quick Tip videos, we discuss regularly what could be the best position for you to take while you sit at your desk all day. While some doctors suggest that there is a ‘best’ position for you to take, Dr. Manuel Urteaga of Urteaga Chiropractic discusses an in-depth answer to this in his Quick Tip video, which can be found here:
Dr. Urteaga suggests that the best position is the next position. Watch his Quick Tip video or read below to see why!
Dr. Urteaga first stresses the importance of taking care of yourself, as our bodies do begin to ache after sitting 6-8 hours a day in an office chair plus having to be in the car for a commute on top of that. He explains that there’s a physiological property that comes into effect where gravity compresses your body and your spine. Because of this, over time, you lose a bit of your height, and your body may begin aching. As you sleep, your tissue re-hydrates, so you wake feeling a bit better and with your spine elongated, and the cycle repeats itself as you shrink and get achier throughout the day.
This is why the best position is the next position- you don’t want to wait until you feel the aching in your body before you change out your position. Dr. Urteaga agrees that there is a proper sitting position that should be your go-to position to begin your day. You should sit up with your bottom all the way at the back of the chair, both of your shoulder blades all the way to the back of the chair, and with your arms down and relaxed, with your elbows at roughly at 90-degree angles. Your feet should be firmly flat and planted, and Dr. Urteaga showcases this position in his Quick Tip video.
From here, before you begin feeling stiff and sore from sitting as gravity pushes on your body, you should change it up so you’re not always in the same position. It’s okay to slouch, to lean a bit forward or to the side, any position that keeps your body moving. Don’t stay in one position for too long and keep your body fresh and moving. Hopefully, this will provide you with relief from your pain and with less soreness in your body. This is why Dr. Urteaga suggests that the next position is always the best position.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, this can, of course, make you feel even worse if you’re stuck in an office chair all day. If you’re experiencing extreme pain or if you’ve been in an accident, be sure to visit Dr. Urteaga or any of our doctors who work on a lien basis today.
