Biomechanical repercussion of sitting posture on lumbar intervertebral discs: A systematic review

• Published in: Journal of bodywork and movement therapies Vol. 38; pp. 384 - 390
• Main Authors: Zanola, Renan Luiz, Donin, Cristiane Buzanello, Bertolini, Gladson Ricardo Flor, Buzanello Azevedo, Márcia Rosângela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Humans; Intervertebral Disc - physiology; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - physiopathology; Lumbar intervertebral discs; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiology; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiopathology; Male; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Posture - physiology; Sitting Position; Sitting posture; Systematic review; Systematic review; Sitting posture; Lumbar intervertebral discs
• ISSN: 1360-8592; 1532-9283; 1532-9283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.01.018

The static sitting position contributes to increased pressure on the lumbar intervertebral disc, which can lead to dehydration and decreased disc height. To systematically investigate the of sitting posture on degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral disc. One researcher carried out a systematic literature search of articles with no language or time limits. Studies from 2006 to 2018 were found. The searches in all databases were carried out on January 28, 2022, using the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) databases, and for the grey literature: Google scholar, CAPES Thesis and Dissertation Bank, and Open Grey. The acronym PECOS was used to formulate the question focus of this study: P (population) – male and female subjects; E (exposure) – sitting posture; C (comparison) – other posture or sitting posture in different periods; O (outcomes) – height and degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral disc(s), imaging exam; and S (study) – cross-sectional and case control. The risk of bias was in its moderate totality in its outcome: height and degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral disc(s) - imaging. Of the four selected studies, three found a decrease in the height of the disc(s) in sitting posture. The individual data from the manuscripts suggest that the sitting posture causes a reduction in the height of the lumbar intervertebral disc. It was also concluded that there is a need for new primary studies with a more in-depth design and sample size.