Contributed by Nicole Weaver| 28 November, 2006 04:12 GMT
Relax. That straight-as-a-board upright posture that you may have been striving for in the interest of ergonomic correctness is not what it's cracked up to be, according to Dr. Waseem Bashir of the Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Alberta Hospital in Canada and colleagues.
The research was conducted at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen, Scotland. The Scottish and Canadian team presented its findings to the
Radiological Society of North America.
The scientists used advanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), taking measurements of spinal angles and disc height, and noting the movement of discs across the various positions. Volunteers were scanned as they sat upright, hunched forward or leaned back at an angle of 135 degrees.
The laid-back posture is better for preventing back problems than sitting up straight, the series of images revealed.
Slouching forward is hardest on the spine, the images showed. Surprisingly, sitting bolt upright may also cause trouble, resulting in damage to discs in the lower part of the spine.
The leaning-back position placed the least strain on discs, muscles and tendons, the researchers observed. |
Home 
Pain 
