Hey everyone, Laci Green here for DNews. Imagine having a magic night of sexytimes and hurting

your back so bad that you can’t have sex again for MONTHS. It’s a thing, people.

Sex can agitate all kinds of back aches and pains - in fact, nearly 4 out of 5 people

will experience debilitating back pain at some point in their lives. But we have (surprisingly)

never had any hard science on how to advise those people for optimal comfort during sex

- UNTIL NOW.

While spooning was generally regarded as the best sex position for people with back pain

in the past, new research at the University of Waterloo has found that it’s actually

the WORST position. And to be honest, I kind of thought spooning was just a cuddling position

because it seems like it would be really hard to move. Maybe I shouldn’t teach sex ed.

To figure out the best positions, they hooked couples up with 8 infrared motion capture

sensors -- similar to what animators use when making video games. This monitored the position

of the spine during 5 common sex positions for 20 seconds each. It also monitored what

muscles were being used during sex and orgasm. They wanted to test more than 5 positions,

and specifically “cowgirl”, but the lead researcher said 5 positions is already a lot

to ask of the participants. It’s unclear if he was in the room while all this...data….was

being collected….

The researchers found that, in general, doggy-style is the best position if you have lower back

pain. I can just hear it now: “but honey…..my back!” I also learned from the report, which

was published in the journal Spine, that scientists refer to doggystyle as the “rear entry quadruped

position” - in case you’re trying to sound official about it in bed. Missionary position

where you’re on your HANDS, not elbows, is also easier on the back. They advise that

motions be made with the hips and knees rather than the spine.

We also learned from their data that it’s not actually the back muscles but the abs

and butt that do the heavy lifting when a guy orgasms. The research on women with bad

backs will be out in a few months.

It’s exciting research and it’s good to have some formal recommendations. But it kind

of makes me wonder...if you have back pain, wouldn’t the best solution be to do some

of your own experimentation? Y’know...try out a position and if it makes you feel like

you’re suddenly 90 years old - try another one. Get freaky people. It’s for science.

Thanks for joining me for DNews everyone. Please report on your scientific findings

in the comments below. We’ll see you next time!