Tummy Time for Adults!?

For parents, "tummy time" is likely a familiar term because of it's pertinence to the physical development of babies. But now, tummy time is becoming popular for solving a miriad of issues for adults. 

So as an adult, what does this mean exactly? If you think about it, many of us spend a great portion of our day sitting, often looking down at laptops and smartphones. Our bodies are not naturally meant to be in this position for long periods of time resulting in issues from "tech neck" to back pain. Experts such as Julie Landis, a physical therapist and ergonomist, suggest that "lying on your stomach for 10 or more minutes a day while watching TV or reading can improve bad posture and relieve 'tech neck' - the strain in our necks and shoulders caused by looking down at phones and laptops for hours each day".

How do I start? For most of us, lying on our stomachs is not a natural position. Even just starting with three to five minutes at a time, lying on your stomach propped on your elbows. The goal is to feel a stretch in the front of the neck, as well as in your back and hips.

What can lying on my belly help me with?

- Tech Neck - Looking down for long periods of time squishes our spinal discs, which accelerates degeneration, pinch nerves, and reduce mobility. The goal of lying face down is to oppose the neck-craning position we're in while on our phones.

- Hip Pain - Sitting all day, as many adults in the working world must resign themselves to, can increase hip tightness. "Tummy time" can help ease some of that tension, open the front of the hips, and loosen hip flexors.

- Back Pain - Lying on your belly helps to activate the core and back muscles, which are key players in everyday back pain.

Flipping onto your stomach can counteract extended sitting just like it does for infants by naturally extending the spine, relieving pressure on spinal disks, especially in the lower back, and allowing the back muscles to stretch and activate differently, said Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, a spinal and orthopedic surgeon.

To wrap it up. Adult tummy time could be the small addition to your routine that makes sitting, standing, even living in general, a lot more comfortable.