Couchlocked: most of us have been there before. Whether enjoying a well-earned day off or a long movie, at a certain point you realize you have been sitting in a tightly coiled position on the couch for two straight hours. During this time, your muscles have tightened in a state of imbalance: poor posture has turned you stiff as a stick bug, and as you attempt to exit the couch, everything hurts.

Avoid the couchlock by doing simple stretches while you sit, keeping the body limber and active while you enjoy your favorite show.

Try shaking it out: give your shoulders a wriggle, lift your arms above your head and reach for the sky; turn your neck from side to side, up and down and do some simple, slow twists. Already your body is limbering up. Have fun with it: invent a couch dance.

Use commercial breaks to get up or stretch: they are perfectly timed for a dose of activity. Why not grab a glass of water while you are up.

For the more ambitious, there are even ways to exercise and tone your muscles from the couch. Perhaps we will cover these in a future post. In the meantime, remember: good posture sets the foundation for good health. Repetitive couchlock syndrome could one day pave the way to being bedridden.

At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we believe that minor adjustments in your life can allow you to enjoy all of your favorite activities more fully. For ideas and help on how to get started, give our office in Sacramento a call at (510) 656-9077 and schedule an appointment today.

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.