Ergonomics and Posture: Other stuff - Part 4

In our first few installments, we’ve touched on what posture and ergonomics involve in our daily life, exercise/training, and sleep.

Today, we are going to get into the nebular world of the “other stuff.”

What’s the other stuff? Great question. Just a catch-all category I could throw two other common issues into that we all tend to deal with (some of us better than others!).

First: DRIVING!

And no, not on the golf course…that’s Scott’s area of expertise (unless, of course, you’re stiffness and stability are problematic and keeping you from getting into the postures Scott wants you to get into…then you can come talk to us). No we are talking about the on the on the 101 and backstreets of Santa Barbara kind of driving of our wonderful automobiles.

Who cares?

According to a AAA survey in 2014, the average American spends 48 minutes per day in their car (which translates to 294 hours per year). (1) Here in Santa Barbara, that might be a slightly high average since we don’t tend to commute as much. However, the point is clear, we are in our cars and sitting… A LOT. Just as we discussed some of the prolonged sitting issues in our first installment, there are no major differences and/or issues that arise here (cervical pain and postural distortion, lumbar pain and postural distortion, hip or lower leg pain from prolonged compression of soft and neural tissue and/or repetitive patterns). The strategies, however, are slight different:

Bring the seat back forward until you are reclined at a 100-110˚.
Bring the steering wheel down and toward you to minimize reach.
Head adjustment so you can set your head back in good cervical stacked position.
Rearview mirror to keep you sitting tall (great reminder).

Next: Move while you drive (SAFELY!). Here are some simple things you can do and keep your attention focused on the road!

Pelvic tilts/shifts/turns.
Shoulder circles.
Use cruise control.
Change hand positions frequently.

The final topic of our Ergonomics and posture conversation is in regards to another primary cause of “orthopedic” pain and injury: emotions. Here’s the lowdown:

Worldwide, 1 in 10 people suffers from lower back pain and it’s the No. 1 cause of job disability. In the U.S., $90 billion is spent on back pain each year.
Few people want to be told that their pain is psychological or emotional in origin, but there’s quite a bit of evidence that backs this up. Studies suggest that, to be effective, pain needs to be addressed from a biopsychosocial perspective.
The late Dr. John Sarno used mind-body techniques to treat patients with severe low back pain. He believed you unconsciously cause your own pain, and that pain is your brain’s response to unaddressed stress, anger or fear.
Pain acts as a distraction from the anger, fear or rage you don’t want to feel or think about, acting as a lid to keep unwanted emotions from erupting. Sarno believed most pain can be overcome by acknowledging its psychological roots.

Recent research supports Sarno’s ideas. In one recent study, emotion awareness and expression therapy reduced chronic musculoskeletal pain by 30 percent in two-thirds of patients; one-third of patients improved by 70 percent. (2)

Suffice it to say, I have had multiple conversation with medical professionals about the reality of patients experiencing pain with no mechanical, chemical or tissue abnormalities present…it could just be emotions or stress-related.

I hope this series has been helpful and insightful. Clearly we are complex beings. Care for yourself well. Move! Seek help and share your life with the right people.

About the author:

Chris Ecklund

MA, PES, CSCS, USAW, TPI

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Ergonomics and Posture: Other stuff – Part 4