Despite
the popular belief that 'spooning' is the best position for those
suffering aches and pains, this new study dispels that theory.
The
researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada found depending on
the type of low-back pain a woman experienced, doggy style or the
missionary position were the best to ease pain.
Their
findings - part of the first-ever study to document how the spine moves
during sex - found 'spooning' was among the worst positions.
A new study by scientists at the
University of Waterloo in Canada documented exactly how the spine moves
during sex. They found contrary to popular belief 'spooning' is not the
best position for those with back pain
The
new recommendations, published in the European Spine Journal, come
after comparable guidelines for men were released last month.
Natalie
Sidorkewicz, who led the study, said: 'Traditionally, spooning was
recommended by physicians to all individuals with back pain because it
was thought to reduce nerve tension and load on the tissues.
'But
when we examined spine motion and muscle activity, we found that
spooning can actually be one of the worst positions for certain types of
back pain.'
To
compile their recommendations the team used pioneering research
combining infra red and electromagnetic motion capture systems to track
how 10 couples' spines moved while having sex in five common positions.
The
results were used to create an atlas, or illustrated set of guidelines,
that can be used to recommend different sex positions based on what
movements trigger a patient's pain.
The
atlas suggests that women who are extension-intolerant - meaning their
back pain is made worse by arching their backs or lying on their
stomachs - should replace spooning with the missionary position.
Adding a low-back support, such as a pillow, can also help keep the spine in a more neutral position.
For
those women who are flexion-intolerant - those whose back pain is made
worse by touching their toes or sitting for long periods of time - the
atlas recommends doggy-style, where the woman supports her upper body
with her hands, not her elbows, or spooning.
Ms
Sidorkewicz said: 'What we know now is that sex positions that are
suitable for one type of back pain are not appropriate for another kind
of pain.
'These guidelines have the potential to improve quality of life - and love life - for many couples.'
Four
of every five people will experience at least one episode of disabling
lower back pain in their lifetime, according to statistics.
Up
to 84 per cent of men with low-back pain and 73 per cent of women
report a significant decrease in the frequency of sex when suffering
back pain.
The findings recommend women suffering
low-back pain made worse by arching the back or lying on their stomach
should opt for the missionary position, while those with pain aggravated
by touching their toes or sitting for long periods of time, should have
sex 'doggy-style'
Professor
Stuart McGill, of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Waterloo,
added: 'Primary care physicians report it is common for couples to seek
their advice regarding how to manage their back pain during and after
sex.
'Many
couples will remain celibate because the pain resulting from one night
of lovemaking lasts months. Now doctors have solid science to guide
their recommendations.'
He
said the next phase of the study will involve recruiting patients with
different categories of back and hip pain, as well as additional sex
positions, to further develop the recommendations.
Last month the team revealed doggy-style is the best position for men suffering back pain.
Those
findings, published in the journal Spine, recommended men who were
flexion-intolerant should replace spooning with doggy-style.
They should also try a 'hip-hinging motion rather than thrusting with their spines', the authors said.
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