But (and this is a very big BUT) sitting combined with either “whole body vibration” (WBV) or awkward postures did increase low back pain. In fact, according to the study, “when the co-exposure factors of WBV and awkward postures were added to the analysis, the risk of low back pain increased by a factor of four. … Sitting by itself does not increase the risk of low back pain. However, sitting for more than half a workday, in combination with WBV and/or awkward postures, does increase the likelihood of having low back pain and/or sciatica (nerve pain down a leg), and it is the combination of those risk factors which leads to the greatest increase in low back pain.”
Wallet in Back Pocket Pain
Helicopter pilots showed the strongest association between WBV and low back pain. Clearly, truck drivers, heavy machinery operators, etc. can be at risk as well. Here is a very important consideration: many people create their own “awkward posture,” even if they have an ergonomically designed work station and think their posture is perfect. They ruin everything simply by keeping a big, fat wallet in their back pocket.
In fact, the wallet in back pocket does not even have to be that fat to have a negative effect. Nowadays, we see a lot of people suffering because they keep their cell phone in their back pocket and sit on it. You see, when you sit on a wallet or cell phone, it un-levels your pelvis, which then un-levels your entire spine. This will cause abnormal stress and strain throughout your entire spine, muscular and nervous system. It can trigger low back pain, mid-back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches and more.
This is a major reason why some people do not get the desired results from chiropractic or medical care before hearing about me and coming to my office. No matter what the doctors do, if you sit on a wallet (or have other bad posture) all day, it will simply work against your treatments. Many people do not see the connection between neck pain or headaches and a wallet in back pocket or something else that is causing awkward posture.
Advice: Simply put your wallet (or anything else like a cell phone) in your front pockets. Plus, you won’t break your cell phone as often.
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