Why You Should Never Sit with Your Wallet in Your Back Pocket
Your back pocket may seem like the perfect place to keep your wallet – it’s large enough to hold even the bulkiest of items, it’s out of the way, and it’s easily accessible. The consequences of keeping your wallet there; however, far outweigh the benefits. Not only can keeping your wallet in your back pocket lead to back pain, it can cause permanent damage to your spine and cause severe symptoms to develop over time.
How? Here’s a quick anatomy lesson
The back pockets of most pants are located directly on your “sit bones” or ischial tuberosities. These bones are the part of your pelvis that, when seated, directly contact whatever surface you are sitting on.
Sitting on an even surface will keep your sit bones level; and therefore, keep your pelvis and spine level. Keeping your pelvis and spine level is extremely important to maintaining healthy alignment, posture, and decreasing the risk of back pain. When we sit with our wallets or other items like our phones in our back pockets, we create an uneven sitting surface. This creates an unlevel pelvis and an imbalanced spine; a potential recipe for both acute and chronic pain.
I’ve been sitting on my wallet for years and have no pain…
Why are some people at greater risk of experiencing back pain if they sit on an uneven surface? The answer is twofold. First – individuals with underlying postural and spinal alignment issues will likely make their dysfunctions worse if sitting on an uneven surface. So, those with underlying issues are likely to experience more pain. Second – length of time. The longer you choose to sit on an uneven surface the more likely you are to experience pain. This applies to the length of time you sit on an uneven surface in one sitting (i.e., 2 minutes, 20 minutes, 2 hours, etc.) and the length of time you have been sitting on an uneven surface throughout your lifetime (i.e., 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, etc.). Of course, it is entirely possible that you are one those people that sits on their wallet day in and day out and has yet to experience back pain, but why do something that can and will likely eventually catch up to you? Do you and your future self a favor and avoid the risk; just stop sitting with your wallet in your back pocket.
For those of you who have taken the recommended precaution and still experience pain – you may have an underlying spinal issue that has not been properly addressed. The first step toward understanding and improving your underlying issues will be finding a doctor certified in CBP (Chiropractic Biophysics) analysis and corrective methods. These doctors will use the latest methods of biomechanical analysis to measure and assess your spinal health and will review the evidence-based methods that can be used to help manage, improve, and possibly correct your unique issues. Here at Modern Chiropractic Center, we are proud to be one of the largest CBP® clinics in the world. Please give our office a call at 208-301-6186 (Boise location) or 208-417-7677 (Nampa location) to get scheduled for a free consultation and exam to determine whether or not we will be able to help you.
