Low Back Pain From Sitting in Overland Park
- Dr. Rory Dopps
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
Why Stillness Makes Your Back Hurt More
A guide by Dr. Rory Dopps | Overland Park, KS
If you’re dealing with low back pain from sitting in Overland Park, you’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong.
I see this pattern daily in my office. Patients are often confused because their back pain doesn’t show up during activity. It shows up after sitting at work, driving, or relaxing in the evening. The longer they sit, the worse they feel, and standing up becomes the most uncomfortable moment of the day.
This tells us something important: the pain isn’t caused by movement. It’s caused by the absence of movement.
Why Low Back Pain From Sitting in Overland Park Happens
Low back pain from sitting in Overland Park is rarely about the chair or even posture alone. It’s about how the nervous system responds when spinal movement is reduced for long periods of time.
Your spine is designed to move frequently throughout the day. When you sit for extended periods, spinal joints stop gliding the way they should. Blood flow slows. Muscles remain partially contracted instead of cycling on and off. Over time, the nervous system interprets this lack of motion as a threat and increases protective tension.
Pain, in this situation, isn’t a sign of damage. It’s a protective response to prolonged stillness.
Why Sitting Often Hurts More Than Standing or Walking
Many people with low back pain from sitting in Overland Park notice they feel better when they walk or change positions. That’s because standing and walking still involve subtle movement. The hips shift, the spine moves slightly, and joints continue sending calming signals to the brain.
Sitting removes most of that input. As motion decreases, pain sensitivity increases. This is why sitting often feels worse than activity and why people feel temporary relief once they get moving again.
Why Standing Up After Sitting Triggers Pain
One of the most common complaints I hear with low back pain from sitting is discomfort during transitions — especially when standing up.
After sitting, joints that haven’t been moving suddenly need to move again. Muscles that have been guarding resist the change. The nervous system hesitates, and pain briefly spikes while the body recalibrates. This doesn’t mean movement is harmful. It means the system has been underloaded with motion.
Sitting, Standing, and the Hidden Adaptations We Don’t Notice
I want to share a quick story that explains this better than any diagram ever could.
Not long ago, I was with my grandma. She was sitting comfortably in a chair, and I asked her, “Grandma, are you ready to go for a walk?”
She said yes—but instead of standing up right away, she rocked back and forth a few times to build momentum. Then she slowly pushed herself up and stood.
I asked her, “Grandma, are you in pain when you stand up?”
She smiled and said, “Not if I get up this way.”
At first glance, that sounds like a good thing. She wasn’t in pain. She found a way to stand up that worked for her.
But here’s the important question:Does that mean she doesn’t have a problem?
The answer is no—she absolutely does.
What she developed was an adaptation.
When Avoiding Pain Hides the Real Problem
My grandma didn’t eliminate the issue. She simply found a way around it.
Her body no longer allowed her to rise from a chair quickly and smoothly. Instead, she had to use momentum, timing, and extra effort to stand without discomfort. The pain wasn’t gone—the movement capacity was.
This is something I see every day in patients with low back pain from sitting in Overland Park.
People tell me:
“I’m fine as long as I get up slowly.”
“If I brace myself, it doesn’t hurt.”
“I just have to stand a certain way.”
Just like my grandma, they’ve learned how to avoid pain, not how to restore function.
Why Transitions Matter More Than Sitting Itself
The ability to move easily from sitting to standing is one of the clearest indicators of spinal health.
When that transition becomes slow, guarded, or strategic, it tells us something important: the nervous system doesn’t trust the movement anymore.
Instead of allowing a smooth rise to standing, the body:
Tightens muscles for protection
Limits speed to reduce perceived risk
Uses momentum or compensation to avoid discomfort
These adaptations work—until they don’t.
Over time, they lead to:
Increased stiffness
Reduced strength
Greater reliance on “safe” movement patterns
Less confidence in the body’s ability to move freely
Pain may be avoided in the moment, but the underlying problem continues to progress.
The Goal Isn’t Just Pain-Free—It’s Effortless Movement
Here’s the distinction I want patients to understand:
Being able to stand up without pain is good.Being able to stand up without effort, hesitation, or strategy is better.
When someone can rise from a chair smoothly, without rocking, bracing, or planning, it tells us:
The joints are moving well
The nervous system feels safe
Muscles don’t need to guard
Pain pathways are quiet
That’s what we’re working toward.
Not just fewer symptoms—but better movement capacity.
How This Ties Back to Low Back Pain From Sitting
Low back pain from sitting in Overland Park often isn’t about how long you sit. It’s about what happens when you stop sitting.
If standing up feels slow, stiff, or calculated, your body is already adapting around a movement problem. Just like my grandma, you may not feel pain every time—but the loss of ease is the warning sign.
That’s why my focus isn’t just on reducing pain. It’s on restoring the ability to move confidently, quickly, and without hesitation—especially during transitions.
Because when movement becomes easy again, pain no longer needs to be managed or avoided. It simply fades into the background.
Why Posture Alone Doesn’t Fix Low Back Pain From Sitting
Posture is often blamed for low back pain from sitting in Overland Park, but posture alone rarely solves the problem.
You can sit upright and brace your core perfectly, yet still experience pain if your spine isn’t moving. Holding one position — even a “good” one — reduces joint motion. Reduced motion leads to stiffness, and stiffness allows pain to build.
Your spine isn’t meant to be held in a single ideal position all day. It’s meant to move often and easily.
Why Stretching Helps Briefly but Low Back Pain From Sitting Returns
Stretching after sitting often feels relieving because it introduces temporary movement and improves circulation. That relief is real, but it’s usually short-lived.
Stretching primarily affects muscles. Low back pain from sitting is usually driven by joint motion loss, not just muscle tightness. Without restoring how spinal joints move together, stiffness and pain tend to return the next time you sit.
What Actually Improves Low Back Pain From Sitting in Overland Park
Long-term improvement comes from restoring proper spinal movement so the nervous system can calm down.
When restricted joints begin moving again, muscles no longer need to guard. Pain signals quiet down. Sitting becomes more tolerable, and standing up feels smoother. This is why chiropractic care is so effective for people with low back pain from sitting — it restores the movement your nervous system needs to regulate pain naturally.
When Low Back Pain From Sitting Keeps Coming Back
Sometimes movement improves, but pain still returns. When that happens, we look beyond the spine and consider stress and recovery.
Chronic stress keeps the nervous system in a heightened state, increasing baseline muscle tension and slowing overnight tissue repair. When recovery is impaired, low back pain from sitting accumulates more easily throughout the day.
Why I Use the DUTCH Hormone Test for Low Back Pain From Sitting
For stubborn cases, I often use the DUTCH Hormone Test to evaluate cortisol rhythm and stress recovery patterns.
If stress hormones aren’t regulating properly, the nervous system remains protective even when spinal movement improves. That’s why low back pain from sitting in Overland Park can persist despite good care.
Specific Supplement Protocol for Low Back Pain From Sitting
To support the structural work and help the nervous system recover between visits, I may recommend a targeted Designs for Health protocol, personalized to each patient:
Magnesium Buffered Chelate – supports muscle relaxation, nerve signaling, and reduces guarding that builds during prolonged sitting.
Inflammatone – supports a healthy inflammatory response that often contributes to stiffness after long periods of sitting.
Adrenotone – supports healthy cortisol rhythm and overnight recovery, which is critical when stress amplifies sitting-related pain.
All supplement recommendations are individualized and used to support — not replace — corrective care.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling with low back pain from sitting in Overland Park, your body isn’t failing. It’s responding normally to too little movement and too much stillness.
The solution isn’t avoiding sitting altogether or forcing posture. It’s restoring motion, calming the nervous system, and supporting recovery so pain no longer builds throughout the day.
If you’re in Overland Park and dealing with ongoing sitting-related low back pain, I’d be happy to help you understand what your body is telling you and how to address it.
Comments