Increased spinal height using propped slouched sitting postures: Innovative ways to rehydrate intervertebral discs.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Upright and slouched sitting are frequently adopted postures associated with increased intradiscal pressure, spinal height loss and intervertebral disc pathology. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of two sustained propped slouched sitting (PSS) postures on spinal height after a period of trunk loading. METHODS: Thirty-four participants without a history of low back pain (LBP) were recruited (age 24.4 ± 1.6 years). Subjects sat in (1) PSS without lumbar support and (2) PSS with lumbar support for 10 min, after a period of trunk loading. Spinal height was measured using a stadiometer. RESULTS: Mean spinal height increase during PSS without lumbar support was 2.94 ± 3.63 mm and with lumbar support 4.74 ± 3.07 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Both PSS with and without lumbar support significantly increased spinal height after a period of trunk loading (p < 0.001). Such PSS postures can provide a valuable alternative to upright sitting and may be recommended for recovering spinal height in the working environment following periods of loading.