If your back hurts more the longer you sit, you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common complaints we hear from patients in our San Diego office.
Many people notice that:
Sitting at a desk makes their back tighten
Driving causes increasing low back pain
Sitting on the couch becomes uncomfortable quickly
If this sounds familiar, there’s usually a mechanical reason behind it—and it’s not just “bad posture.”
Sitting places your spine in a compressed position, especially in the discs of the lower back. Over time, that compression can:
Increase pressure inside spinal discs
Reduce normal disc movement and fluid exchange
Irritate surrounding joints and nerves
Make existing disc bulges or disc injuries feel worse
For many people, the issue isn’t weakness—it’s compression.
While this does not fix the underlying problem, it can help you understand what your back is responding to.
Sit at the edge of a chair with both feet flat on the floor
Sit tall, without slouching or leaning back
Place your hands on the armrests or edges of the chair
Gently press down through your arms
Let your hips feel heavy as your spine lengthens upward
Hold for 10–15 seconds, then relax
Repeat 3–5 times
Important:
Think length, not force. This should feel relieving, not aggressive.
This movement does not correct the root problem.
However, if you notice even a small reduction in pain or tension, that’s important information.
It suggests that reducing compression improves your symptoms, which helps guide what type of care may actually work for you.
That’s exactly what we evaluate in our office.
At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, Dr. Cassidy Boelk, DC focuses on identifying whether spinal compression—especially disc compression—is contributing to a patient’s pain.
Our approach includes:
True Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD)
Exclusive use of DRX9000 spinal decompression tables
Customized protocols based on each patient’s condition
Integration of active care to support long-term results
Dr. Boelk is a Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor and the founder of the Spinal Decompression Training Academy, where he trains other doctors nationwide. Patients regularly travel from outside San Diego to seek his expertise.
If your back pain consistently gets worse when sitting—and especially if the seated decompression above helped—it may be time to determine whether spinal decompression or another non-surgical approach is appropriate.
We offer no-charge, no-obligation consultations to:
Evaluate whether compression is contributing to your pain
Determine if you’re a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Explain your options clearly before any care begins
Dr. Cassidy Boelk, DC
Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist
Founder, Spinal Decompression Training Academy
The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Rd, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
📞 (619) 298-0800
🌐 www.SanDiegoBackCare.com
Schedule a Complimentary, No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation or to submit a question, simply fill out the form to the right and click submit.
(619) 298-0800