Back pain and chairs Astride

[LoveStretch]

Someone suggested sitting astride a chair (Back to front) when sitting at a desk or table.

Horse riding style, In order to open the hips and hopefully get rid of the harmful effects of sitting on a chair.

What do members feel?

[Nathan]

Hi LoveStretch,

Welcome to the forums!

This has actually been discussed in some length several times before on the forums, so I suggest you use the search function. Try searching for "standing desk" or something similar. But to give you a quick answer, there's nothing at all wrong with sitting. It becomes a problem when we do it for hours and hours every day, barely moving at all during that time. Changing your seated position is great. But if you sit (or stand) in a different position without moving for hours and hours every day, you're going to have similar or new problems. You need to vary your position, and move often. Get up and take breaks. Choosing a different poison, so to speak, will not solve the true issue.

[LoveStretch]

Straddling your chair forces you to keep your back arched, shifting weight from the muscles in your lower back to your hips and thighs. 

I suppose that if you do it for too long you will walk like a cowboy..

[Kit_L]

@LoveStretch: I am not sure about that (ex-cowboy here); very different IMHO! Personally, I go with @Nathan's suggestion—nothing wring with sitting, per se; we simply need to add other activities to the mix. Stretching is one of them; strengthening is another; and moving another thing again. What stretching are you doing?