The Swedish study

How intervertebral disc pressure varies with body position.

1. Sleeping (on Back) – 25 kg Pressure
2. Sleeping (on Side) – 75 kg Pressure
3. Standing (Good Posture) – 95 kg Pressure
4. Standing (Bad Posture) – 140 kg Pressure
5. Lifting – 200 kg Pressure (Plus)
6. Sitting (Good Posture) – 130 kg Pressure
7. Sitting (Leaning Forward) – 180 kg Pressure
8. Sitting (Bad Posture) – 265 kg Pressure.

Lying (on the back), standing (good posture), and sitting (good posture) causes the least possible pressure in the discs. Sitting (bad posture), particularly for long periods, causes most pressure in the spine (10 times the pressure as sleeping).