Is Bad Posture the Cause of My Back Pain?
Most people attending the Physio Clinic with back pain believe that poor posture has played a significant role in their pain. Some clinicians spend a considerable amount of time analysing posture and attempting to link this to back pain.
The question is: Is there any Evidence for a link between poor posture and back pain?
In fact, there are two parts to answering this question:
- Does the Evidence Show a Link Between Poor Posture & Pain?
- Is there a Difference in Posture Between Individuals with & without Back Pain?
Laird RA, Gilbert J, Kent P, Keating JL. Comparing lumbo-pelvic kinematics in people with and without back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;15:229. Published 2014 Jul 10. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-229
This research review incorporated 8 different studies.
In summarising their findings, the authors found that, on average, people with low back pain had no difference in low back posture compared to those without low back pain.
Swain CTV, Pan F, Owen PJ, Schmidt H, Belavy DL. No consensus on causality of spine postures or physical exposure and low back pain: A systematic review of systematic reviews. J Biomech. 2020;102:109312. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.08.006
Here, the authors found that some studies find a link between posture and back pain whereas others do not.
When only the higher quality studies are included then they could not find any consistent evidence for a link between back posture or physical activity and low back pain.
Can Bad Posture Cause of My Neck Pain?
Karen V Richards, D Clin Physio, M Manip Ther, Darren J Beales, PhD, M Manip Ther, Anne L Smith, PhD, M Biostatistics, Peter B O’Sullivan, PhD, Grad Dip Manip Ther, Leon M Straker, PhD B App Sc (Physio), Is Neck Posture Subgroup in Late Adolescence a Risk Factor for Persistent Neck Pain in Young Adults? A Prospective Study, Physical Therapy, Volume 101, Issue 3, March 2021, pzab007, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab007
In this study with 686 participants, the authors found that sitting neck posture at 17 was not a risk factor for persistent neck pain at 22 years of age in males, whereas in females, more relaxed postures (slumped and intermediate postures) were protective of neck pain compared with upright posture.
The authors concluded that ‘the practice of generic public health messages to sit up straight to prevent neck pain needs rethinking.’
Is there a link between Poor Posture and Neck Pain?
Ariëns GA, Bongers PM, Douwes M, et al. Are neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting at work risk factors for neck pain? Results of a prospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med. 2001;58(3):200-207. doi:10.1136/oem.58.3.200
This study followed a group of 1334 workers for a period of 3 years across 34 companies.
Work related physical load was assessed via video recordings of neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting posture. Neck pain was assessed by a questionnaire.
‘A significant positive relation was found between the percentage of the working time in a sitting position and neck pain, implying an increased risk of neck pain for workers who were sitting for more than 95% of the working time.’
A trend for a positive relationship between neck flexion and neck pain was found, suggesting an increased risk of neck pain for people working with the neck at a minimum of 20° of flexion for more than 70% of the working time. No clear relation was found between neck rotation and neck pain.
‘Sitting at work for more than 95% of the working time seems to be a risk factor for neck pain and there is a trend for a positive relation between neck flexion and neck pain. No clear relation was found between neck rotation and neck pain.’
Do Movement Breaks Reduce the Incidence of Back Pain?
Waongenngarm P, Areerak K, Janwantanakul P. The effects of breaks on low back pain, discomfort, and work productivity in office workers: A systematic review of randomized and non-randomized controlled trials. Appl Ergon. 2018;68:230-239. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2017.12.003
The authors in this study evaluated the effectiveness of active breaks on low back pain and productivity in office workers. They referred to all publications released over a 36 year period.
The length of both working time and break times were highly variable between studies and therefore difficult to compare.
‘…..active breaks with postural change may be effective in reducing pain in workers with acute low back pain and to prevent discomfort in healthy subjects.’
The evidence also suggested that the use of breaks had no detrimental effect on work productivity.
Do Sit-To-Stand Desks Help to Reduce Back Pain?
Agarwal S, Steinmaus C, Harris-Adamson C. Sit-stand workstations and impact on low back discomfort: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ergonomics. 2018;61(4):538-552. doi:10.1080/00140139.2017.1402960
Here, they identified eight relevant studies & concluded that sit-stand workstations, by leading to changes in posture may reduce low back pain among workers.
De Carvalho D, Greene R, Swab M, Godwin M. Does objectively measured prolonged standing for desk work result in lower ratings of perceived low back pain than sitting? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Work. 2020;67(2):431-440. doi:10.3233/WOR-203292
Prolonged sitting has been shown to induce transient low back pain. Height adjustable office desks now present the opportunity to replace sitting with standing in the workplace. Since standing has also been associated with back pain, this may not be an advisable alternative.
The results of three studies were pooled & the authors stated that:
‘prolonged standing postures during desk work did not induce significantly less perceived low back pain compared to seated postures.’
They concluded that ‘It appears that replacing seated desk work postures with standing for prolonged periods of time would not be recommended.’
My summary:
So, the evidence seems to be mixed when it comes to sitting or standing in terms of back pain prevention. Prolonged sitting, however, has several negative influences in terms of health. For example, prolonged sitting is associated with negative metabolic changes which can predispose to weight gain, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
It appears that ‘active breaks’, where you are moving or performing exercise may be optimal for decreasing back pain incidence and improving overall health
Do Physical Jobs Increase the Risk of Back Pain?
Khan MI, Bath B, Boden C, Adebayo O, Trask C. The association between awkward working posture and low back disorders in farmers: a systematic review. J Agromedicine. 2019;24(1):74-89. doi:10.1080/1059924X.2018.1538918
Although studies of the general population have shown an association between low back disorders and awkward working posture, farmers have unique work context and exposures that may modify this relationship.
Nine studies were included in this review & they all used self-reported measures.
Despite the diversity, the weight of evidence supported a relationship between awkward posture and low back disorders.
My summary:
This particular study, using self-reports of poor posture, would be deemed very poor quality.
The authors concluded there may be a link between extremes of posture, as might occur in farming or heavy labour, but it is hard to be definitive from this study.
Roffey DM, Wai EK, Bishop P, Kwon BK, Dagenais S. Causal assessment of awkward occupational postures and low back pain: results of a systematic review. Spine J. 2010;10(1):89-99. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2009.09.003
A systematic review was performed to identify a potential link between awkward occupational postures and LBP. Eight high-quality studies reported on awkward occupational postures and LBP.
The authors found ‘no association between awkward occupational postures and LBP, with only two studies demonstrating significant associations compared with six studies reported mainly nonsignificant associations.’
‘It is therefore unlikely that awkward occupational postures are independently causative of LBP in the populations of workers studied.’
Coenen P, Gouttebarge V, van der Burght AS, et al. The effect of lifting during work on low back pain: a health impact assessment based on a meta-analysis. Occup Environ Med. 2014;71(12):871-877. doi:10.1136/oemed-2014-102346
Lifting at work is considered an important risk factor for low back pain (LBP). However, contradictory findings have been reported, partly because frequency, duration and intensity (ie, the weight of the load) of lifting have not been systematically considered.
The aims of this study were: to assess the effect of lifting during work (quantified in duration, frequency or intensity) on the incidence of LBP and to quantify the impact of these relationships on the occurrence of LBP in occupational populations exposed to lifting.
Eight studies were included.
‘..we estimated that lifting loads over 25 kg and lifting at a frequency of over 25 lifts/day will increase the annual incidence of LBP by 4.32% and 3.50%, respectively, compared to the incidence of not being exposed to lifting.’ Intensity and frequency of lifting significantly predict the occurrence of LBP.
What Causes Back Pain in Cyclists?
Streisfeld GM, Bartoszek C, Creran E, Inge B, McShane MD, Johnston T. Relationship Between Body Positioning, Muscle Activity, and Spinal Kinematics in Cyclists With and Without Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Sports Health. 2017;9(1):75-79. doi:10.1177/1941738116676260
Low back pain is reported by more than half of cyclists. The causes of back pain in this group is not clearly understood.
Eight studies were included in this review.
Core muscle activation imbalances, back extensor endurance deficits, and increased lumbar flexion while cycling were found to be present in cyclists with low back pain.
My Summary of the Research:
- There is no clear link between poor posture and neck or back pain
- Prolonged sitting seems to be linked with back pain as opposed to the posture of sitting or type of chair
- Taking regular active breaks may help decrease back pain
- The evidence for using standing desks in terms of back pain is in its infancy but is unclear at present
- Awkward postures being assumed regularly during work does not show a clear link with back pain.
- Heavy manual labour seems to demonstrate an associated with an increase in back pain
It might be a case that, for some people, posture is a significant cause of their back pain, but because there are several factors that can cause pain, it might need to be present alongside other characteristics. When dealing with studies involving larger groups, this may not show up as statistically significant.
In other words: always keep an open mind!!
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