If you ever feel stressed out or conflicted about something, you might be experiencing cognitive dissonance, a psychological phenomenon that occurs when your actions or beliefs are inconsistent with each other.
Cognitive dissonance can cause mental discomfort, but did you know it can also affect your physical health?
The Experiment
Researchers from The Ohio State University conducted an experiment to see how cognitive dissonance affects spine biomechanics during lifting and lowering tasks. They recruited 17 participants and asked them to place a light-weight box within a square on a moving surface. They gave them positive feedback at first, but then switched to negative feedback, making them feel bad about their performance.
The Results
The researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure, heart rate variability, and spinal loads in the neck and low back. They also asked them to fill out questionnaires about their mood and discomfort levels. They found that:
Cognitive dissonance increased peak spinal loads in the neck by 11.1% and in the low back by 1.7%.
Cognitive dissonance also increased shear forces in the spine, which are more likely to cause injury than compression forces.
The higher the cognitive dissonance score, the greater the spine loading.
The Implications
The study suggests that cognitive dissonance may be a previously unidentified risk factor for neck and low back pain, which are common and costly health problems. The researchers say that cognitive dissonance may affect spine disorders by causing muscle co-activation, which creates a tug of war in the torso.
The study also has implications for risk prevention in the workplace, where lifting and lowering tasks are common and cognitive dissonance may arise from conflicting goals, expectations, or feedback. The researchers recommend that employers and workers should be aware of the potential effects of cognitive dissonance on spine health and try to reduce or resolve it.
The Takeaway
Your thoughts can have a powerful impact on your body, especially your spine. If you want to keep your spine healthy and happy, you should try to avoid or cope with cognitive dissonance as much as possible. Here are some tips to help you do that:
Be aware of your thoughts and feelings and how they affect your actions and beliefs.
Seek out information that is consistent with your values and goals.
Try to see things from different perspectives and be open to change.
Seek feedback that is constructive and supportive.
Use relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga.
Remember, a healthy mind leads to a healthy spine!
Comments