Are you a person who sits in a chair for most of the working day?

Here’s what sitting all day, every day is doing to your back, from a chiropractor’s perspective: 

• Intervertebral discs: sitting, especially with poor posture, puts more pressure on your spine than any other position. Sitting prevents oxygen and nutrients from replenishing your intervertebral discs and causes them to lose flexibility. 
• Muscles in the back: abdominals are less-used when sitting, causing them to weaken depending on how much you sit.
• Hips: your hips tighten up in a sitting position, limiting their range of motion. Your glutes also weaken and hamstrings become tight, creating a pull on the base of the spine. 

“But, I have no alternative to sitting!” you say. Read on to find the perfect antidote to the damages of sitting

The bridge is an indelible exercise for reversing the pains caused by sitting

The bridge: 

• Strengthens every muscle in the back, but most importantly the muscles that support the spine
• Lengthens the spine
• Improves circulation of the blood and oxygenates muscles
• Alleviates stress
• Opens up the hips and shoulders
• Can be used to target the hamstrings and glutes

The bridge could be the single most important stretch for your back

There are many different types of bridges and chances are, there is one that is right for you! However, it is always worth consulting with a health professional before starting any new exercise, especially one that requires a bit of know-how like the bridge. We can help you there- if you are interested in adding bridges in to your work out routine and back care portfolio, we can show you how; give our office in Sacramento a call to schedule an appointment today.