| Seating and anatomy |
The human spine is a column consisting of vertebrae joined by intevertebral discs. It is the lumbar vertebrae that primarily carry the weight of the entire upper body. The spinal column rotates along a vertical axis and is flexible in all directions. From the side, the human spine is S-shaped. The intevertebral discs permit spinal mobility. Intevertebral discs also act as shock absorbers and their thickness can change depending on the changing burden. Intevertebral discs are fed in a process known as diffusion. This process of nutrition has a positive effect on spinal mobility and is necessary for the discs to function correctly. Diffusion depends largely on the mobility of the entire system of vertebrae and intevertebral discs: movement acts as a pump to circulate the necessary nutrients. The more the spine moves, the more fluids and nutrients discs absorb.
According to surveys, loss of disc hydration is one of the chief factors affecting lower back pain, caused especially by insufficient spinal mobility..
Spine problems are often caused by long-term bad body posture and especially incorrect, static seating posture.
According to statistics evaluated in 1998 in Germany, almost 30% of work absences caused by health reasons were caused by muscular-spinal problems.
