Where is your wallet?

• Many people go years sitting on a wallet in their back pockets without knowing that this may be causing significant spinal and pelvic stress. Sitting on a wallet while at your desk, at home, in the car or other places will cause the pelvis to tilt and eventually cause the spine to compensate and bend as a result!

• Lets talk about the anatomy here. The pelvis connects itself to the sacrum (tailbone) by way of two large joints which creates the foundation of your entire spine. When visualized from the front view, this surface should be completely level. By adding a wedge to one side (like a wallet) it will elevate it and created a tilted surface. Over time, the spine will compensate for this unlevel base and create a curvature, like the leaning tower of Pisa.

• Not only does this change the position of the bones, it can put direct pressure on tissues like the gluteal muscles and the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that travels down the back of the buttocks, back of the thigh, and eventually makes it’s way to the toes. Direct compression on this nerve can lead to pain, tingling, and numbness down the leg.

• So what’s the moral of the story here? Take your wallet out of your back pocket when you are seated. You can either move it to the front, or just take it out all-together.

If you think you may have problems associated with this like back pain, sciatica, tilted hips, or short leg syndrome, come in to the office for a check up.

Yours in health,

Dr. Glenn Ezell