The spine, the most important structure for the movement and support of the human body, is one of the most damaged as a result of inappropriate behavior in daily life. Because of this, back pain, lower back pain, or discomfort when sitting are becoming more common problems.

In particular, a study by the WHO (World Health Organization) indicated that about 80% of the world’s population suffers from back pain.

An orthopedist comments on the main problems that can cause back pain – Photo: Freepik/Reproduction/ND

Does bad posture cause back pain?

According to Dr. Felipe Zamboni, an orthopedist and traumatologist from Itajaí and Balneario Camboriu, on the north coast of Santa Catarina, by definition there is no wrong position of the spine, since the human body is flexible and adapted to different movements.

However, Zamboni cautions: “It is actually wrong to remain in extreme flexion of the spine for long periods of time, straining structures, muscles, and joints.”

Sitting cross-legged for long periods of time, lying on the couch with your head down, or a severely bent neck are some of the factors that can lead to back pain, the orthopedist explains in detail.

Felipe also commented that “the frequent repetition of these movements can cause the person’s body to become accustomed to an uncomfortable position”, which causes discomfort and exacerbates the resulting problems.

Nowadays, due to the large presence of electronic devices such as cell phones and computers in people’s daily lives, we spend hours in front of screens without noticing the pressure being put on the spine.

Similar situations are also very common at work, when employees are focused on their duties and forget about personal and physical care.

What also exacerbates the perception of these problems is that the pain is often not immediately felt. We usually notice back pain at night when we no longer perform harmful movements.

“Because of this, people end up not associating pain with poor posture,” adds Zamboni.

Problems caused by bad posture

The orthopedist noted that degenerative injuries are the most common problem caused by insufficient care of the spine. They occur when we leave the spine flexed to the extreme for a long time, putting pressure on some muscle or structure.

The intervertebral discs located between the vertebrae of the cervical spine are an example of affected joints. By exerting a lot of pressure on them, the blood flow through the discs is disrupted, which leads to tissue wear and malnutrition.

“This cuts off the blood supply within the disc, and when it continues for many hours, it also blocks the entry of cells into the structure and causes tissue degeneration and degradation. Therefore, this makes him more prone to ruptures, herniated discs, inflammation and other symptoms,” Felipe reports.

These injuries can also occur acutely when we lift too much weight with poor movement performance.

Learn how to take better care of your posture – Photo: Freepik/Reproduction/ND

Daily care

According to an orthopedic traumatologist, the ideal way to prevent problems with the spine is to correct yourself daily, paying attention to those movements and positions that prevail in everyday life.

He argued that “wrong” positions usually cause some discomfort or pain and should therefore be avoided. Those discomforts that are not eliminated by improving posture should be examined by an experienced orthopedist.

Thus, try to lean your back on the chair at an angle of 90 °, leaving your legs at the same angle with respect to the floor. Screens and monitors should be held at eye level with forearms resting on the table.