You may be asking yourself “what the hell is he talking about now?”
Well think about it. The COVID 19 virus has changed the way we now live our lives.
“Isolation” and a “reduction in social interaction” are becoming the new catch phrases.
We are spending more time at home and to amuse ourselves we are turning to multimedia for more of our entertainment and as a means to distract ourselves from the reality of what is happening outside (or in some cases inside).
We have become dependent on the escapism that TV offers us all.
So now we sit for long periods watching hour upon hour of soap operas, reality TV, motor car and gardening programs and the list just seems to go on and on and grow day by day.
We sit on couches (in many cases) that are well past their used by date.
They now offer little support.
They are not ergonomically designed and have probably had the stuffing knocked out of them by years of misuse whether it be by young children using them as trampolines or adults using them as makeshift beds.
And the outcome? Well let me list some of them for you:
An increase in lower back and neck pain
Joints and muscle stiffness
A reduction in joint and muscle mobility.
We get up from sitting on these relics feeling like we are 100 years old and sometimes the stiffness can last hours or, in extreme cases, days.
So how can we avoid the aches and pains that can develop from sitting on the couch for hours on end?
Well the obvious answer is buying a new couch.
However, in many cases, this may not be a practical solution.
What are some options to avoiding back pain, neck pain or any other type of muscular pain?
Let me list some:
Minimize the time that you spend on the couch if it is uncomfortable
If you must spend prolonged time on the couch, then get up regularly and stretch
Make sure that you prop yourself up with pillows so that your spine is properly supported
Look at sitting on alternative surfaces, such as a supportive kitchen or office chair
So, Netflix may not be your best friend but with some sensible planning and preparation you should be able to watch your favourite programmes in reasonable comfort without traumatizing your spine.
If you do develop back, neck or any other type of pain and it does persist, make sure you have it looked at and treated.
At the Mount Street Chiropractic Centre, we have over 35 years in dealing with both spinal and joint and muscular related conditions and their symptoms.
All assessments and chiropractic treatments are based on sound clinical practices and techniques and a positive client outcome is our main priority.