You already know that sitting is considered “the new smoking,” i.e., harmful to your health and something you need to avoid doing. But it’s not just how long you sit that’s the problem. It turns out it’s the way that you sit that may be causing your back or neck pain. Your posture, your rounded back, your hunched shoulders all contribute to pressure on your spinal discs and may be the source of your discomfort and long-term damage. Instead, you’ve got to pay attention to the position of your derriere and the motion of your hips when you sit. So sit up tall and listen to the advice from this recent NPR story Here.

Of course, it’s also valuable to get some exercise suggestions or product support when you’re worried about your back and posture, especially if you spend long periods of time sitting in front of your computer. So, for some good advice about how to position yourself at your desk, and what products may help, take a look Here. For some additional posture-correcting products, check out this recent New York Magazine piece. If you want some visual demonstrations of good posture-supporting exercises, stretch out your arms and Click Here. Finally, if you’ve been wondering if it’s time to see a chiropractor for that back pain, you may be interested to read a recent study published in JAMA about the added value of chiropractic care for lower back pain.