Sitting up straight may harm your lower back Misconception about sitting up straight may lead to lower back pains. As you recall in your childhood days, you are told to sit up straight. But Scottish researchers said Monday in Chicago that when looking at the spine with a new imaging technology, the spine is strained when sitting up straight with a straight back and thighs parallel to the floor. In fact, it’s better to lean back a bit, even if it looks like slouching. “Really the best position is what you get in a La-Z-Boy,...