Why Do You Have Lower Back Pain When Sitting or Bending Over?
Lower back pain when sitting and bending over can have a huge impact on a person’s way of life. It can prevent most of us from performing certain tasks, such as cleaning, sitting, working, and enjoying simple hobbies. Back pain is one of the most common types of pain people experience, and it is the third most common reason for doctor visits, with up to 80% of adults experiencing back pain at some point in their lives.
Of that 80%, only about 25%-30% seek medical care. Others justify the pain as everyday aches and discomforts. Most of the time, lower back pain is just that: the result of daily activities and choices. The problem is knowing when the pain should be treated medically.
For those contemplating whether to seek medical assistance, let’s first analyze why you have lower back pain when sitting and bending over.
Why does my lower back hurt when I sit?
Your back can hurt when sitting or bending over for many reasons. These causes can vary, depending on the severity of the pain and the positions you put yourself in. In some cases, people may not be able to sit due to pain and discomfort in the lower back. Some possible reasons why you might experience lower back pain and stiffness when sitting include:
Occupation and Home Life
The most common reason for lower back pain when bending over or sitting is how we manage ourselves at work. Many people sit at a desk for about eight hours a day, five days a week. We stay in the same position for most of that time.
Sitting for a long time, especially in the same position, can cause your glutes not to activate properly because your hip flexors are in their shortest position. Instead, you overwork your hamstrings. This can cause an anterior pelvic tilt (APT) or excessive pelvic tilt.
Other occupations may demand more strenuous activities that can aggravate severe lower back pain when sitting. These jobs require lifting, usually heavy lifting. While companies should provide proper equipment, most of us will find that we inadvertently lift with our backs instead of our legs and hips. We lean forward to lift instead of squatting, and when we rise back up, the tension on the back muscles increases as we strain to stand again. Lifting this way could create difficulty moving or muscle stiffness.
These problems persist even when you go home. After long days at work, you spend the evenings on the couch, relaxing.
Sleeping also impacts the lower back. After a night’s sleep, you may wake up with lower back pain and be unable to bend over, making it difficult to perform daily tasks. Throughout the night, we contort our bodies into seemingly comfortable positions. You may try to accommodate pets, significant others, or any other obstacles in bed. The resulting positions can stiffen and tense back muscles.
Postural Stress
Throughout our lives, many of us unconsciously fall into rhythms and practices that contribute to postural stress. We find that sitting in a certain way feels more comfortable at the cost of tension in the back. We routinely lift things using back muscles instead of our legs and core, which can cause extreme lower back pain when bending over.
When we sit, we apply about 90% more pressure on our backs than when we stand. With proper posture, the pressure is distributed evenly between the back and core muscles.
Most people spend much of their days looking down, usually looking at a phone, book, or computer. On average, the human head weighs about 10 pounds. When we tilt our heads forward, we overload the neck muscles as they try to support the weight of the head.
Another source of postural stress occurs when we place our phones between our ears and shoulders while talking. This position pulls and tenses the muscles on the opposite side of the head.
Physical Fitness
Physical exercise can cause back pain while sitting but not standing for two key reasons.
The first is not using proper form when exercising. Weightlifting, yoga, and other exercises that use the back and core can easily damage the nerves and bones in the back if performed incorrectly. Always follow the recommended positions and forms to minimize stress and damage caused.
The second reason is the lack of exercise and proper physical conditioning techniques that weaken the muscles that help us sit, bend, and lift objects. Consistent exercise improves the strengthening of the lower back and helps significantly reduce discomfort.
The Modern Solution: StemWave™ Therapy
While traditional exercise and posture correction are essential, chronic lower back pain often requires a more direct approach to heal damaged tissues.
At Bienestar Clinic, we offer advanced treatments such as StemWave™ technology. This non-invasive therapy utilizes electro-hydraulic shockwaves to stimulate cellular regeneration, drastically reduce inflammation, and enhance blood flow directly to the injured area.
🔗 Discover how this innovative treatment compares to conventional methods: StemWave™ Technology vs Traditional Physiotherapy.
Medical Sources and References
- Por qué tienes dolor de espalda baja al sentarte o agacharte - New York Spine Institute
- Efectividad de la fisioterapia para el dolor de espalda baja apoyada en recursos digitales - Calvo Soto, Andrea Patricia, et al. Revista Cubana de Información en Ciencias de la Salud, 2023.
Are you suffering from back pain in Suffolk County? Schedule a personalized evaluation with us at Bienestar Clinic, Brentwood and recover your quality of life with the best physical therapy and advanced regenerative treatments like StemWave™.
