|
Burdening of the spinal column |
Preserve your spinal column. You have only one!
| Did you know that the burdening pressure on the intervertebral discs is higher during sitting than during standing? And this difference isn't small. It represents whole 75 kg!
Maybe you ask: how is this possible when we are sitting and resting. To better understand the way the spinal column is functioning and how it is burdened, let's at first have a look how the spinal column is built up. It is built up from:
- intervertebral discs
- spinal bones
- ligaments
- joints
- muscles
- nerves
Every component of the spinal column has its own role which enables us to move freely. Here is a very simplified description of the functioning of the spinal column and its components:
in a healthy spinal column the intervertebral discs are intercepting blows and vibrations while the spinal bone provides sufficient support for the back. The joints in the spinal column make a precise fitting of the components and together with the ligaments they make sure the spinal column doesn't dislocate. The nerves, actually the nervous system, warns if there is an overload, a wear-out or another damage of the spinal column, while the muscles move the body as a whole. You can read more about the functioning as well as of injuries of the spinal column on www.hrbtenica.com .
Every part of the spinal column is additionally composed of even smaller elements that make the spinal column so mobile and at the same time so firm. If there occurs a damage of just one of these elements, pain is warning us about it. The most frequent spinal column injuries are:
- weakened back muscles
- loosened or weakened back ligaments
- damaged intervertebral discs
- worn out joints
Injuries occur mainly because of an overburdening of the spinal column and/or because of lack of motion. In both cases the spinal column starts losing its flexibility and mobility becomes limited.
The SpinaliS chair gives a favourably solution to this by making active sitting possible. Active sitting strengthens the muscles, keeps the joints flexible and prevents by continual motion a punctual burdening of individual parts of the spinal column.
|
| When and how is the spinal column burdened?
The spinal column supports, or even carries, the upper part of the body. Because of this it is constantly under burden. Medical science measures the burdening of the spinal column in terms of pressure inside of the intervertebral discs, produced by the body weight, body posture and external weight (lifting of objects).
The lowest burdening of the spinal column is during lying and comes up to 25 kg of pressure on the inside of intervertebral discs. The most incredible fact quoted by medical science is that the pressure on the inside of intervertebral discs is higher during sitting than during standing. The pressure amounts only to 100 kg, yet when sitting, it amounts up to 175 kg.
How is this possible?
During an upright position (when standing) a part of the burden on the intervertebral discs is being taken over by ligaments and muscles. During sitting though the muscles and ligaments relax. This increases pressure on the intervertebral discs. Additional pressure results from an improper body posture.
Because of an ever increasing work style in sitting posture exercised by our society, and because of ever longer sessions in sitting position, our muscles and ligaments are becoming more and more lax. Through this increases the burdening of the other components of the spinal column which take over the burden of the inactive components, which leads to injuries.
Long lasting burdening and increased pressure on the intervertebral discs is on a short-term base even welcome — it helps, similarly to muscle exercises, to strengthen the intervertebral discs and to keep them healthy. Excessive and/or permanent and very long lasting burdening of the intervertebral discs however causes an outflow of fluid contained in the discs. The progressive draining of the intervertebral discs lessens the space between them. This produces friction and quite often a pinched nerve, sometimes even a total destruction of intervertebral discs.
This is just one of the main causes for pain in the spinal column with weakened muscles as the main culprit. In spite of all this you can help yourself.
Is there a solution?
More exercise, recreational activities and healthier life habits will help you keep your spinal column healthy. But what if you are at work and at home bound to long hours of work in sitting posture?
Here the SpinaliS chair can help you. SpinaliS is the only chair in the world that gives you the possibility of comfortable sitting and at the same time it imitates active sitting on a therapeutic ball. Therapeutists are recommending it as the best instrument for healthy sitting. SpinaliS is giving you even more. Its precise ergonomical workmanship makes your working environment healthier and easier accessible, without affecting your spinal column. Don't forget, SpinaliS keeps your spinal column healthy.
You can find on www.hrbtenica.com more information about how the spinal column is built, about its burdening and injuries.
| |
