If you sit much of the day sitting in front of the computer, you need to make sure you quit doing this. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to weight gain which increases a host of other diseases, and there are other ways this affects you that you may not know about, three of which are listed below.

Carpal Tunnel

When you sit and type most of the day your wrists make the same motion over and over again. This repetitive movement can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

There is a median nerve that runs from your forearm down into your palm. The median nerve is inside the carpal tunnel, which is a narrow passageway with bones, tendons and ligaments at the base of your hand. While you are typing, this median nerve is squeezed or pressed at your wrist. It is important for this nerve to have no damage because it controls the movement of your thumb and fingers.

If you are having this problem, you will have weakness in your wrist and hand and pain will radiate up your arm

Back Problems

Sitting all day can cause aggravated and inflamed muscles in your back. Once this happens, you will feel back pain in your upper and lower back. To prevent this from happening, get out of your chair every half hour or so and walk around. Stretch your back by putting your hands on your hips and bending back until you start feeling pain. Do this stretch a few times each time you get up.

You likely sit in a slouched position in the chair rather than sitting with your back straight up. The muscles and joints in your back support your body weight if everything is aligned properly. Sitting slouched disrupts the balance and once this happens, you will feel back pain. A slumped position forces the tendons and muscles in your lower back to work harder, which raises the risk of back strain and pain.

To help improve your posture, get an ergonomic chair that forces you to sit up straight. A physical therapist can also help if you are feeling back pain already. Because it is likely a habit for you to sit slouched, you will have to remember to sit up straight. Put a sticky note on your computer screen reminding you of this.

No matter if you are feeling wrist or back pain, you should make an appointment with your doctor so you can get the treatment you need.

For orthopedic specialists, contact a clinic such as Town Center Orthopaedic Associates.