Ask Dr. Lon: Why does my back hurt when on my computer?

A common question is, “Why does my back hurt when on my computer?” A better statement may be, “I’m so over this back pain when on my dang computer!”

Today Dr. Lon discusses back pain from sitting at a desk or computer. 

During my super star years of little league baseball (the more years removed, the better I get) I remember being hit in the arm by a pitch. What do you think was the first thing I did when hit by that baseball? Cry or scream? Yes, but besides that, I rubbed my arm. Why? Because in your arm – just as in your back – are tons of tiny receptors called movement receptors. In fancy terms, they are called mechanoreceptors. These receptors have an interesting relationship with pain receptors (called nocioceptors). If you’ve ever had a hammer-to-thumb “ouch” moment, you’ve been introduced to a pain receptor called a nocioceptor.

What’s interesting about these receptors is that when one is turned on, the other is turned off. It’s a little more involved than that, but for all intents and purposes, that’s how it works. So the bottom line regarding the question about back pain related to sitting at a computer is to move. Get out of your chair and move your body.

My recommendation is for every 30 minutes of sitting, spend five minutes walking around. If you forget, then after 60 minutes walk around or move for 10 minutes. The best part of this advice is that it doesn’t cost you anything. Ignoring this rule may find you going for a massage, physical therapy, chiropractic, or better yet (I’m being facetious) going to your primary doctor to get some meds.

Of course I’m biased being a chiropractor, but let’s face it, you either love ’em or hate ’em – but I’ll leave that topic for another day.

I also don’t think you could ever go wrong with tilting your head back on occasion. When sitting at a computer, we all tend to slouch, which makes our 8 to 13 pound head suddenly become 25 pounds, which in some ways reverses years of human evolution. And I personally don’t want to see any of you becoming knuckle-draggers. Hamstring stretching is always a good idea, too.

In conclusion, remember that movement is key. So set a timer, train your dog to bark or bite you, or do whatever it takes to remember to move every 30 minutes. Please don’t ignore your health or your body’s ability and design to tell you “WARNING! WARNING! Something is WRONG!”

– Dr. Lon

Disclaimer: The information above is not intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical condition. It is solely for informational purposes only. If you are suffering from a medical condition, you should seek advice from a healthcare professional.