Second Hand Smoke essays

Second Hand Smoke essays Seventy percent of Americans sit on the job. Of this group, the most frequent complaint is neck, shoulder, and back pain. Less than 5% of back pain is due to herniated discs, slipped discs or fractures (OSHA, www.OSHA.COM) This is directly related to a poor sitting posture. Our bodies are not designed to sit for extended periods of time. Sitting in a slumped posture stretches the ligaments and muscles that extend the back. Over time, this weakens them so they are less able to respond when needed. The stretched position causes the back muscles to be chronically active. This low-level activity can cause a decrease in circulation to the working muscles (Alan Hedge, Ph.D., FErgS, AFBPsS - Professor, Ergonomics, Cornell University). Sudden changes in circulation can cause acute pain Standing or lying down puts little pressure on the lower back vertebrae. Sitting correctly more than doubles the pressure to the spine as compared to standing, while sitting in the slumped position increases the pressure four times. This additional pressure, over long periods of time can have long term impact on the discs of the lower back. Generally these pains are chronic and sometimes cause numbness in the leg. Additional reasons for lower back pain or numbness can be related to the chair or position when sitting. Improper chairs or positioning can add pressure in the legs just below the buttocks. This added pressure both puts can impact the nerves in the leg, most often the sciatica and also slows the flow of blood to the lower extremities. ...