How To Sit

Stiff as a board, or slouched like a sloth? Pull up a chair and take the weight off your feet, as back pain researcher Dr Kieran O’Sullivan explains

- Dr Helen Pilcher

There is no ‘right’ way to sit

Interviewers expect you to sit up straight and, if you’re on a date, leaning forward can make you seem interested. But, when it comes to preventing aches and pains, there is no ‘right way’ to sit.

Slouching isn’t bad

People think that sitting upright is good and slouching is bad, but it’s a myth. There’s no evidence to support this. A big study in Australia, for example, found that, if you follow people through life, the ones who develop chronic back pain aren’t the ones who were slouching or who had poor posture. Genetics, anxiety, sleep patterns and stress all play a role.

Sitting up straight isn’t nice