I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT THOUSANDS OF TIMES. YOU DREAD SITTING DOWN. WHETHER IT IS THE MORNING COMMUTE, A LONG DAY AT THE DESK, OR THAT UPCOMING FLIGHT TO SEE FAMILY, THE MERE THOUGHT OF A CHAIR MAKES YOUR LEG THROB. IT IS EXHAUSTING, ISN'T IT? YOU HAVE PROBABLY SPENT HUNDREDS — MAYBE EVEN THOUSANDS — OF DOLLARS ON SO-CALLED "ERGONOMIC" CHAIRS OR FANCY LUMBAR CUSHIONS, YET THE PAIN REMAINS. THE TRUTH IS, MOST SEATING ADVICE FAILS BECAUSE IT FOCUSES ON THE CHAIR RATHER THAN THE PERSON SITTING IN IT.
DEAN VOLK, MPT, IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE LEADING SCIATICA RELIEF EXPERTS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THROUGH MY WORK WITH 5,200+ ONLINE CLIENTS, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE "BEST" SEAT DOES NOT EXIST UNTIL YOU FIX THE IMBALANCES IN YOUR OWN BODY. SITTING IS NOT THE ENEMY — AN UNBALANCED BODY SITTING IS THE ENEMY!! IF YOUR BODY IS LEANING, TILTING, OR SHIFTING TO ONE SIDE TO ESCAPE THE PAIN, EVEN A $2,000 OFFICE CHAIR WILL NOT SAVE YOU. IN THIS GUIDE, I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO NAVIGATE SEATING IN YOUR CAR, ON A PLANE, AND IN YOUR OFFICE USING THE LENS OF BODY BALANCING.
- WHY YOUR "ERGONOMIC" CHAIR IS PROBABLY MAKING YOU WORSE
MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT BUYING AN ERGONOMIC CHAIR IS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION. BUT HERE IS THE TRUTH: ERGONOMIC CHAIRS ARE DESIGNED FOR SYMMETRICAL BODIES. IF YOU HAVE SCIATICA, YOUR BODY IS ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT SYMMETRICAL RIGHT NOW!! YOU ARE LIKELY COMPENSATING BY LEANING AWAY FROM THE PAINFUL SIDE (FOR 15-20 SECONDS AT A TIME WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT) OR TUCKING YOUR PELVIS IN A WAY THAT PUTS EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON THE SCIATIC NERVE.
WHEN YOU SIT IN A HIGHLY STRUCTURED ERGONOMIC CHAIR WHILE YOUR BODY IS OUT OF BALANCE, THE CHAIR ACTUALLY FORCES YOU INTO A "CORRECT" POSITION THAT YOUR BODY IS NOT READY FOR. THIS CREATES A WAR BETWEEN THE CHAIR AND YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM!! I CONSTANTLY TELL MY CLIENTS THAT WE MUST BALANCE THE BODY FIRST. ONCE YOUR BODY IS BALANCED, THE CHAIR BECOMES A TOOL RATHER THAN A TORTURE DEVICE. WITHOUT BALANCING, YOU ARE JUST PUTTING A NEW SADDLE ON A LAME HORSE.
- THE OFFICE CHAIR: MASTERING THE DESK WITHOUT THE DEBILITATING PAIN
IF YOU WORK AT A DESK, YOU ARE LIKELY SITTING FOR 6 TO 8 HOURS A DAY. THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OFFICE WORKERS MAKE IS SITTING WITH THEIR HIPS LOWER THAN THEIR KNEES. THIS POSITION ROUNDS THE LOWER BACK AND STRETCHES THE SCIATIC NERVE INTO A VULNERABLE POSITION. YOU WANT A CHAIR THAT ALLOWS YOUR HIPS TO BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN YOUR KNEES. THIS CREATES A "NEUTRAL" PELVIC TILT THAT TAKES THE MECHANICAL TENSION OFF THE NERVE.
BUT HERE IS THE SECRET SAUCE: YOU MUST LEARN TO BALANCE YOUR WEIGHT EVENLY ON YOUR "SIT BONES." MOST SCIATICA SUFFERERS SHIFT 70-80% OF THEIR WEIGHT TO THE "GOOD" SIDE. THIS ONLY REINFORCES THE IMBALANCE!! AT THE OFFICE, I RECOMMEND A FIRM SEAT OVER A SOFT ONE. A FIRM SURFACE GIVES YOUR BRAIN BETTER FEEDBACK ABOUT WHERE YOUR BODY IS IN SPACE. IF YOU ARE SINKING INTO A PLUSH CUSHION, YOUR BRAIN LOSE TRACK OF YOUR ALIGNMENT, AND YOUR MUSCLES WILL TIGHTEN UP TO COMPENSATE. IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY UPRIGHT, YOUR BODY IS TELLING YOU IT IS OUT OF BALANCE.
- THE CAR SEAT: SURVIVING THE COMMUTE AND LONG ROAD TRIPS
DRIVING IS ONE OF THE HARDEST ACTIVITIES FOR SCIATICA SUFFERERS BECAUSE IT IS INHERENTLY ASYMMETRICAL. YOUR RIGHT LEG IS REACHING FOR THE GAS AND BRAKE WHILE YOUR LEFT LEG IS OFTEN JUST HANGING OUT. THIS "PEDAL REACH" PULLS ON THE PELVIS AND CAN AGGRAVATE THE PIRIFORMIS MUSCLE OR A BULGING DISC. MOST CAR SEATS ARE ALSO BUCKET-SHAPED, WHICH MEANS THEY CRADLE YOU IN A WAY THAT ROUNDS YOUR BACK — A TOTAL NIGHTMARE FOR NERVE PAIN!!
TO FIX THIS, YOU NEED TO LEVEL OUT THE PLAYING FIELD. I OFTEN ADVISE MY CLIENTS TO USE A SMALL, FIRM WEDGE CUSHION TO FILL IN THE DIP AT THE BACK OF THE CAR SEAT. THIS PREVENTS YOUR PELVIS FROM TUCKING UNDER. ALSO, MOVE YOUR SEAT CLOSER TO THE STEERING WHEEL THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD. IF YOU HAVE TO STRETCH YOUR LEG OUT TO REACH THE PEDALS, YOU ARE ACTIVELY ANTAGONIZING YOUR SCIATIC NERVE WITH EVERY MILE YOU DRIVE!! FOR MORE TIPS ON THIS, YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO DRIVING WITHOUT SCIATICA PAIN.
- THE AIRPLANE SEAT: THE ULTIMATE TEST OF ENDURANCE
AIRPLANE SEATS ARE THE WORST OFFENDERS. THEY ARE CRAMPED, THIN, AND DESIGNED FOR MAXIMIZING PASSENGER COUNT, NOT YOUR COMFORT. THE BIGGEST ISSUE ON A PLANE IS THE LACK OF MOVEMENT. WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN THAT TINY SEAT FOR 3 HOURS, YOUR BODY STIFFENS UP IN ITS CURRENT IMBALANCE. I ALWAYS TELL MY TRAVELING CLIENTS: DO NOT JUST SIT THERE AND SUFFER!!
IF YOU CAN, CHOOSE AN AISLE SEAT SO YOU CAN GET UP FREQUENTLY. WHEN SITTING, USE THE AIRPLANE BLANKET OR A ROLLED-UP JACKET AS A LUMBAR SUPPORT, BUT PLACE IT SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN YOU THINK (JUST ABOVE THE BELT LINE). THIS HELPS MAINTAIN THE NATURAL CURVE OF YOUR SPINE. HOWEVER, THE REAL TRICK IS WHAT YOU DO BEFORE YOU BOARD. IF YOU GO INTO A FLIGHT WITH A BALANCED BODY, YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM WILL BE MUCH MORE TOLERANT OF THE CONFINED SPACE. IF YOU ARE ALREADY "LOCKED UP," THAT FLIGHT WILL FEEL LIKE AN ETERNITY.
- BEYOND THE CHAIR: THE 3-STEP SYSTEM FOR LASTING RELIEF
YOU CAN BUY EVERY CUSHION ON THE MARKET, BUT IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE, YOU ARE JUST BAND-AIDING THE PROBLEM. MY 3-STEP PROCESS IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING WE DO AT SCIATICA RELIEF NOW LLC. IF YOU WANT TO SIT PAIN-FREE, YOU MUST FOLLOW THIS PATHWAY:
STEP 1: BALANCE OUT IMBALANCES. WE USE SPECIFIC, TARGETED MOVEMENTS TO GET YOUR BODY LEVEL AGAIN. THIS OFTEN INVOLVES STRETCHING THE "WRONG" SIDE (THE HEALTHY SIDE) TO BRAIN-HACK YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM INTO RELEASING THE TENSION ON THE PAINFUL SIDE. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT WHY THIS WORKS HERE: SCIATICA BREAKTHROUGH: WHY STRETCHING THE WRONG SIDE IS THE KEY.
STEP 2: STABILIZE IN THE NEWLY BALANCED POSITION. ONCE WE HAVE YOU LEVEL, WE HAVE TO TEACH YOUR MUSCLES HOW TO HOLD THAT POSITION WHILE SITTING OR STANDING. THIS IS WHERE WE CHOOSE THE RIGHT SEAT TO SUPPORT YOUR NEW BALANCE, RATHER THAN RELYING ON THE SEAT TO DO ALL THE WORK.
STEP 3: RETURN TO NORMAL SLOWLY AND WISELY. THIS IS THE FINAL PHASE WHERE YOU GET BACK TO DRIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY OR SITTING THROUGH A LONG DINNER PARTY WITHOUT CONSTANTLY WIGGLING AROUND IN PAIN!!
- HOW TO TELL IF A SEAT IS ACTUALLY HELPING YOU
HERE IS A QUICK TEST YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW. SIT IN YOUR FAVORITE CHAIR. DOES YOUR PAIN INCREASE WITHIN 5 MINUTES? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THE SEAT IS EITHER WRONG FOR YOU, OR YOUR BODY IS TOO FAR OUT OF BALANCE TO TOLERATE IT. I DO NOT WANT YOU TO COMMIT TO A NEW CHAIR OR A LONG TRIP IF YOUR BODY DOES NOT RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE SITTING POSITION WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES.
LISTEN TO THE SIGNALS YOUR BODY IS SENDING. IF YOU FEEL A "PULLING" SENSATION IN YOUR BUTTOCK OR A "ZAP" DOWN YOUR LEG, THAT SEAT IS ACTIVELY STRETCHING THE NERVE. THE BEST SEAT IS THE ONE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO FEEL "QUIET" IN YOUR LOWER BACK AND LEGS. FOR MANY, THIS MEANS A FIRM CHAIR WITH A SLIGHT FORWARD TILT. BUT REMEMBER, NO SEAT WILL FIX A SKEWED PELVIS. YOU MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ALIGNMENT OF YOUR OWN BODY FIRST!!
- THE SECRET TO SITTING PAIN-FREE: THE SCIATICA PROOF LAB
I KNOW YOU ARE TIRED OF GUESSING. YOU HAVE TRIED THE INJECTIONS, THE GENERIC PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND THE PILLOWS FROM AMAZON. YET, YOU STILL CAN'T SIT COMFORTABLY. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I CREATED THE SCIATICA PROOF LAB. IT IS A FREE 3-DAY EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR.
THE SCIATICA PROOF LAB IS NOT A LIST OF GENERIC EXERCISES. IT IS A SERIES OF THREE 1:1 ZOOM SESSIONS WITH ME (30 MINUTES EACH). DURING THESE THREE DAYS, I WILL PERSONALLY LISTEN TO YOUR FRUSTRATIONS, ANALYZE HOW YOU MOVE, AND MANUALLY GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE BODY BALANCING MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE HELPED 5,200+ CLIENTS FIND RELIEF. IT IS HIGHLY PERSONALIZED COACHING DESIGNED TO "PROOF" THAT YOUR BODY CAN INDEED FEEL BETTER WITHOUT SURGERY OR MORE DRUGS.
IF YOU ARE READY TO STOP GUESSING WHICH CHAIR TO BUY AND START FIXING THE ACTUAL PROBLEM, THIS IS YOUR NEXT STEP. I ONLY TAKE A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR THESE SESSIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE 1:1, SO DO NOT WAIT IF YOU ARE TRULY READY TO GET YOUR LIFE BACK!!
JOIN THE FREE 3-DAY SCIATICA PROOF LAB HERE: WWW.SCIATICAPROOFLAB.COM
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY, REACH OUT TO ME AT INFO@SCIATICARELIEFNOW.NET. I AM HERE TO HELP YOU RECLAIM YOUR ABILITY TO LIVE LIFE ON YOUR TERMS — SITTING, STANDING, AND MOVING WITHOUT THE FEAR OF PAIN.
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