Our lifestyle, with excessive sitting or standing hours, leads to bad postures that cause occasional or lasting pain. There are many gestures that should not be done. As an example, the typical movement of crossing your legs while sitting can be detrimental to good back health, according to experts. Because, although it may seem comfortable for a time, this pose overloads the lumbar muscles. Similarly, sitting while carrying the wallet in one of the back pants pockets causes a thigh to be raised and an imbalance in the body is adopted.
How can body wellness be achieved?
A single change of posture can be beneficial to our health. Experts recommend getting up every hour to move your joints and not strain your muscles . In addition, when sitting in front of a computer we must have both feet on the floor, with our backs completely straight on the back of the chair and with our elbows resting on the table.
While sleeping we also fall into bad postures that can cause pain and a bad rest. To avoid this, it is advisable to have a comfortable cushion, not excessively high, that allows you to lie on your side with one leg slightly flexed and the other stretched. Changing daily habits and postures reduces anxiety caused by back pain, but if they still do not stop, it is best to go to a muscle specialist to perform the necessary therapies.
Sciatica
In the case of sciatica , the sciatic nerve is located in the lumbar part and connects the spine to the legs. It consists of five branches, two that connect to the lumbar region of the spine and three others in the sacral part, which extends throughout the leg. The set allows for motor and sensory functions in the lower leg and lower back.
When a nerve root connected to the sciatic nerve is clamped, irritated or compressed, it causes severe pain in one of the two legs, especially when sitting. Sometimes, while we sleep, it causes a throbbing pain in the back of our back. Although it can be relieved by sitting or resting, the pain is worse when getting up and standing up . Weakness, tingling, or numbness are also common symptoms that move to the leg, including as a needle stick sensation. According to the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine ( @Society_SEMI ) it is very difficult to avoid it because sometimes they are the result of trauma or blow to the area.
What to do
If the pain is acute, a doctor should be consulted for specialized treatment. Although there are remedies to do at home and relieve swelling, such as ice packs or heat, even alternating the two options every day, with a frequency of twenty minutes. In times of inflammation, taking an aspirin or ibuprofen can also be helpful, but always under medical consent. It is also advisable to perform exercises to strengthen muscles and straighten bad posture, going to the physical therapist or chiropractor. The low – impact activities are ideal, such as walking, swimming or go biking because they reduce pain and strengthen bodybuilding to avoid possible problems in the future.
The diagnosis is simple and is established according to the characteristics of the pain and the physical examination . If the pain lasts more than 3 weeks, a spinal x-ray is usually done. When the pain is very persistent despite the treatment carried out or if any complication of the nerves is suspected, it may be justified to carry out more complex complementary tests, such as the scanner or magnetic resonance imaging, indicates the Spanish Rheumatology Foundation ( @SEReumatologia ).
