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What do physiotherapists consider to be the best sitting spinal posture?
Kieran O'Sullivan1, Peter O'Sullivan, Leonard O'Sullivan
1University of Limerick, HS2-025, Health Sciences Building, Limerick, Ireland. kieran.osullivan@ul.ie
Experts disagree on the best sitting posture for low back pain (LBP). While most physiotherapists favored one of two distinct postures, upright sitting correlated with more negative LBP beliefs.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Therapy
- Ergonomics
Background:
- Low back pain (LBP) is frequently aggravated by sitting.
- Optimal sitting posture for LBP management is not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate physiotherapists' perceptions of the best sitting posture for LBP.
- To explore potential correlations between posture preference, back beliefs, and country of practice.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 295 physiotherapists across four European countries.
- Participants selected their preferred sitting posture from nine options and completed the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ).
Main Results:
- 85% of physiotherapists chose one of two specific postures, with one being significantly more popular.
- Physiotherapists preferring a more upright posture scored higher on negative LBP beliefs (BBQ).
- Preferred sitting posture varied significantly between countries.
Conclusions:
- There is a lack of consensus among physiotherapists regarding the ideal neutral spine and best sitting posture for LBP.
- Qualitative feedback suggested comfort, relaxation, and natural spinal alignment are key perceived benefits.
- Further research into the sitting posture preferences of individuals with LBP is warranted.
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