The Great Backpain Epidemic

Do you get back ache? Niggles between your shoulders? Aches in your lower spine? Backpain is annoying at best and can devistate people's lives at worst. Almost everyone will experience some degree of backpain in their lives, in fact I don't know anyone over the age of 12 that hasn't had at least a bit of an ache!

There are lots of reasons us humans are so susceptible to muscular and spinal problems. One of the main reasons is that we walk upright. This makes us unique among mammals. It also presents a whole new set of potential problems for us. One of the main ways we used to counteract the forces at work on our upright spine was to rest in a squating position. When humans sit in a full squat, the lower back is stretched in the opposite direction to that when we are upright. We get to counteract the forces of gravity acting on our spine by actively resting in a position that stretches us the way need to be stretched.

Most people don't rest in a squat position these days. In fact, most people seem pretty intent on evolving into the very chairs they sit on day in and day out! By learning to squat properly, and slowly working your way to being able to do a full squat and rest there, you will be doing a great service to your back. It's unlikely that you'll be able to just hop off your chair and plop down to a full squat, but follow the instructions below and you'll be on your way in no time.

Start standing, legs comfortably wide. Shift your weight back into your heels and push your hips back. Keep those tummy muscles tight.
Drop down, thinking of pushing your bum backwards. Keep the weight in your heels. You shouldn't feel any knee strain, and you should feel the backs of your legs and your bum working.
Once you've mastered the half-squat, you and start dropping your bum lower each time, provided you can keep your weight back. Eventually you will master the full squat!