We all have our favorite spot in the house to lounge about and relax, and it’s often the living room couch. You come back from work after a long day and you’re eager to simply decompress from your daily stress, yet what you may not realize is while your stress is decompressing, your back, neck, and spine are doing quite the opposite. When seated at your couch for an extended period of time, you’ll typically begin to sink into your couch and this causes poor support to occur and awkward seating positions to develop. This is especially true if you’re choosing to watch a longer film or binge-watch your favorite show. Read on to learn more about why you should try to avoid sitting on the couch for too long and how Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants can help you with your back, neck, and spine pain.
Sinking into the Couch
We’ve all been halfway through a movie and begin to realize we’ve sunken into the couch and our lower back is beginning to experience discomfort. This is primarily due to the lack of support as our weight begins to weigh down on the stuffing of the couch cushions. This is especially true when the couch is multiple years old and lacks proper support when nobody is even sitting on it. We’ve all experienced the couch which just appears to be quite sad and appears as though it’s been sat on for many hours. This is the type of couch you’ll want to avoid to prevent back, neck, and spine pain.
Poor Support of Your Back, Neck, and Spine
As mentioned above, the poor support of couches for your back, neck, and spine is quite commonplace amongst many couches. They’re typically not ergonomically designed with you in mind. This is okay if you’re seated temporarily on your couch for brief instances, yet if you watch a movie or television show every evening for 4+ hours (as most Americans do), then you’ll likely run into some issues along the way.
Awkward Seating Positions
The couch is also much more likely to encourage you to eventually position yourself in some awkward seating positions, especially if your television is not in line with your direct line of sight. Say for instance your couch runs the length-wise, perpendicular to your television. This may end up causing you to lay on your side with your neck titled and craned uncomfortably to be able to watch the television from the right perspective. While this may be optimal for the viewing experience, it’s less than optimal for you back, neck, and spine. If you must sit on your couch, avoid shifting into an awkward seating position, as this may exacerbate any pre-existing issues you currently have.
Extended Seating Times for Movies or TV Shows
Most movies are approaching two hours these days and with that extended running time, you’ll begin to sit for longer periods of time on the couch. With this extended seating time, you’ll most likely begin to experience additional aches and spins after sitting for so long. It’s important to take a break and stand up and stretch if you’re going to be watching a longer film. Similar to intermission back in the day, think of this as your personal intermission moment for your back, neck, and spine health.
Avoid Sitting On the Couch for Too Long
All in all, you’ll want to avoid sitting on the couch for too long. While yes, it may be tempting to lounge around for multiple hours after a stressful day; you’ll want to avoid it. Sitting in general is not the best for your overall health, yet when you pair sitting for long periods of time with an unsupportive couch; you’re most likely going to develop uncomfortable aches and pains.
Choose Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Back, Neck, & Spine Needs
If you’ve noticed an increase in neck, back, or spine pain and have yet to see improvements; you may want to consider reaching out to us here at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants. Our team of physical therapists, physician assistants, and doctors will be able to help you rebound from your aches and pains. Through our advanced technology and comprehensive care, you can trust Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants to provide you with the care you’ve been searching for. Feel free to reach out to us using the form below and we’ll be sure to respond to your message as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
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