The widespread disease of back pain
Back pain has become a widespread disease in our society. Around 80 percent of people experience back pain at least once in their lives. While the symptoms subside within six to eight weeks for most people, eight to ten percent of those affected develop chronic pain, which sometimes lasts a lifetime. There are a number of things you can do to combat back pain. Ideally, you can take preventative measures before the pain occurs. But even if the first signs are already there, it is not too late to take immediate action.
Back pain is the reason for most sickness-related absences from work and thus causes economic damage that costs the German economy alone almost 55 billion euros every year. As a logical consequence, a broken spine is given as the reason for every second application for early retirement.
(Source: Prof. Dr. Dietrich Grönemeyer, My Back Book, Zabert Sandmann Publishing, 2004)
Where does back pain come from?
The causes of back pain are varied, as are their severity. Stress, lack of exercise, poor posture , obesity , poor diet, genetic predispositions are some of the factors that influence back pain. However, doctors agree that the main cause is the lack of exercise, which is due to our "sedentary lifestyle". Because:
- Over the course of a working life, we sit for around 80,000 hours.
- Office workers spend around 85% of their working day sitting.
- When sitting upright, 90 kg of pressure is exerted on the spine, and when bending forward, 170 kg.
- 80% of chronic back pain is caused by neglect of the back muscles.
Lack of exercise and the side effects for the back
At the desk, in the car and in the evening on the couch. We sit too much! And that has serious consequences - especially for the back. A living organism has to stay moving in order to function. Long-term lack of exercise and persistent incorrect strain lead to the supporting core muscles gradually deteriorating and the intervertebral discs no longer being able to adequately absorb the shocks from daily movements. So we need to move more again. An important resolution for a healthy back, but one that often fails due to a lack of time and motivation.
Easily integrate exercise into your everyday life
"Active, moving sitting" with this seemingly simple solution brings movement into everyday sitting. Aeris' unique 3D technology demands and encourages intuitive movements when sitting. Lateral flexibility and forward leaning train the back muscles, and frequent changes in posture ensure optimal sitting positions. Dynamic sitting on the Swopper or 3Dee active chairs from Aeris allows for a lot of movement in all directions. This relieves the back and trains tendons and muscles. The best conditions for a strong, healthy back. Anyone who "sits in motion" has already done a lot for their back. Without stressful operations, without expensive treatments, without medication and without side effects - but with a clearly noticeable feel-good effect.
“Germany has our back”
Back pain is now the most common reason for sick leave. It accounts for one in ten days of absence in Germany. Those affected miss up to 17.5 days per year. In this sense, back pain has long since ceased to be an individual problem. It costs companies billions every year and is also economically significant for society. It is high time that not only everyone takes action to ensure a strong back, but companies also face up to their responsibility. Through health management and, above all, by creating a back-friendly workplace that allows movement even when sitting.
