Sitting Doesn't Have to be a Pain in the Butt

DentalTown.com • by Juli Kagan

As a society and specifically as a dental community, we sit a lot.

Whether in our car, at a computer, on the sofa, or on a dental stool, our spine is sadly at increased risk of injury due to the excessive amount of sitting we endure most of our day. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that clinicians, as well as professional office workers, who are in a seated position, have an increased chance of suffering from back trouble. The reference list is endless – but you know firsthand, your own back pain is evidence enough. The bottom line is this: sitting can be helpful instead of hurtful.

Firstly, to better appreciate why sitting can be so damaging, it is helpful to understand the curvature of the spine and even some history regarding the evolution of chairs. The spine has three natural curves: the cervical, thoracic and lumbar. Every body has different spinal configurations and degrees of curvature. For example, female gymnasts commonly exemplify a large degree of lumbar curvature, termed lordosis, and conversely, a retired senior dentist who hunched over his patients for numerous years, might show a severe thoracic curvature called a kyphosis.

The spine has a natural gentle lumbar slope at the base of the spine; however, when we sit, this natural curve is lost and the amount of pressure on each inter vertebral disc is doubled when compared to the normal lumbar curve when it is not violated.¹ Preventing this loss of curvature is incumbent when sitting on a chair or dental stool; however, most dental stool manufacturers have left out this vitally important aspect of stool mechanics. It has only been very recently that a "lumbar support" has been added to dental stools, but this simple addition is not enough.

Problems arise when the pelvis, which intricately attaches to the lower part of the spine at the sacrum, is asked to perform a function it was not designed to do. It is analogous to the patient who uses anterior teeth to gnash food when some of the posterior teeth are missing. Over time, inevitable damage occurs.

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