Contrary to popular belief, spooning is not always the best sex position for those with a bad back, according to new research from the University of Waterloo in Canada.
For the first time ever, scientists have successfully documented the way the spine moves during sex and discovered exactly why certain positions are better than others when it comes to avoiding back pain.
"Any family doctor will tell you that couples often ask them how to manage their back pain during and after sex. Many couples will remain celibate because one night of love-making can lead to months of back agony," said Professor Stuart McGill, of Waterloo's Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.
The pioneering study combined infrared and electromagnetic motion capture systems – like those used in the creation of video games – to track how 10 couples' spines moved when attempting five common sex positions.
The findings were used to create an atlas, or set of guidelines, that recommends different sex positions and thrusting techniques based on what movements trigger a patient's pain.
The atlas recommends that men who are flexion-intolerant – meaning those whose back pain is made worse by touching their toes or sitting for long periods of time, for example – replace spooning with doggy-style sex.
The guide recommends that these men use a hip-hinging motion rather than thrusting with their spines.
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 intercourse when suffering back pain. The study also shed light for the first time on the mechanics of the male orgasm.
Electrodes hooked up to the male participants' muscles revealed that it is abdominal and buttock, not back muscles, that are most active during orgasm.
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