SITTING ON YOUR WALLET

Everyday we see patients that are “wallet sitters” or people that leave their wallets in their back pocket while they sit. While this may not be harmful for short periods of time, extended periods of sitting on your wallet can create serious consequences to your lower back. Let’s dive in to the how, the why, and the what to do about wallet sitting. 

What is it?

  • This view depicts sitting WITHOUT a wallet. You can see how the hips are level.  The next picture depicts sitting at a chair with a wallet in your back right pocket. This spinal model shows exactly how a wallet affects the low back and pelvis.
  • First you’ll notice the obvious shift in weight bearing on the pelvis.  Which can create an abnormal curvature in the lower back.
  • Second, if done over long periods of time, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and lead to radiating pain down the leg.
  • Over time, it can create an actual curvature of the lumbar spine or shifting of the pelvic bones.  This slow shift in ligaments is called “creep”. If it’s done for a long enough period of time, the resting length of the tissue can actually deform and lengthen, allowing for shifting to occur.
  • Along with changes in pelvic alignment and ligament structure, discs are affected. When discs undergo abnormal weight-bearing and mechanics, they wear out faster.
  • It can even create curve changes in the thoracic spine as the upper back will counterbalance the weight bearing, similar to how it occurs with scoliosis.
  • The side with the wallet in it will experience a higher level of Sacroiliac Joint compression, one of the leading causes of LBP. It pushes the ilium into the sacrum and “jams” the SI joint.
  • It also creates muscle imbalance from left to right sides.  Any time there are muscle imbalances, the body can develop chronic pain or other problems.

What to do

  • Simple, take the wallet out.  It may take 3 to 4 weeks to develop this new feel or habit, but once you do, you will realize how uncomfortable it was to have a wallet back there in the first place.
  • Also avoid leaning while sitting, you want to make sure you stay upright and avoid any chronic abnormal postural changes.
  • Do Not try to go to a thinner wallet in your back pocket, because remember even a small wallet can create a wedge large enough to cause abnormal weight bearing on the pelvis.
  • Take the wallet out altogether.
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