Well, kids sports have started up this weekend. And beyond all the screaming and cheering for little Sally because she’s just so good and going to go pro soon, there was another thing I noticed the other day while I was at the fields-
All the fold up chairs people bring to the fields…
Whether you’re at the fields or at a summer concert, or sitting out front roasting marshmallows, those fold up chairs are just so bad for your backs.
These are the types of chairs I’m talking about:
Yes, they’re super convenient and have an easy case to carry them in, but they allow your back to round out, and they put a lot of pressure down low. It creates tension and stiffness in the low back, and it leads to problems soon after you get up.
I’ve had several patients come into my clinic this week complaining about that, and it’s just week 1 of the soccer and baseball season (at least here in Southern California anyway- it was 91 degrees here yesterday! These winter sports sure are rough…).
Some other alternatives would be to:
- Stand. Yep, sorry. But standing up, moving around, keeping your joints in motion is going to be the best option. Plus, you can cheer even louder when you stand up!
- Sit on the ground. You can put something behind you for a little bit of back support, but sitting on a blanket is actually going to give you less issues than sitting in one of these chairs.
- Choosing a chair with a firmer back, and one that is more of an L shape like the old school ones. The Eddie Bauer ones aren’t too bad. Their more L shaped and firm, so your glutes don’t sink into them as bad. But they ARE closer to the ground and can be more difficult getting out of to stand. Even the old school ones like this can be better (as long as they don’t dig into the soft ground or get laughed at for bringing it to the fields!)
Be careful out there, and enjoy those sports seasons without all the aches and pains!
Reach out to me at drv@healthybackandwellnessinstitute.com if you need any advice on a good chair to get. I’m happy to help!
And to get more tips on positions you need to absolutely avoid doing, or ways to properly position yourself so those daily activities aren’t so detrimental on your back and spine, check out my Eliminate Your Back Pain For Good Program here.
