Q. I am a student and usually after two or three hours of continuous sitting during class I experience back pain. What should I do?

A. You may be experiencing back pain because of poor posture and not taking enough stretching breaks. Continuous sitting puts excessive strain on your back muscles. There are certain things to consider about posture.

Do:

- Always maintain an upright, erect posture when sitting or standing

- Try to use your leg muscles to lift heavy objects rather than using back muscles

- Get up and stretch at least once every hour

Don't:

- Slouch your back while sitting

- Bend your back while lifting heavy objects

- Sit for prolonged periods without getting up occasionally

Submitted by second-year Fitness and Health Promotion students.