Whether you’re at work on your computer, at home watching TV, or in your car anywhere in between, you’re likely to spend a big chunk of your day in the seated position. In fact, the majority of people spend 10 to 15 of their waking hours per day sitting.
Add on the eight hours of recommended sleep people should spend lying down, and it’s any wonder we ever see anyone standing or walking at all!
We here at Sandstone Chiropractic have seen the ill effects of sedentary behavior in the form of poor posture and increased neck and back pain, but those aren’t the only issues that can crop up. Mayo Clinic endocrinologist James Levine points to a recent analysis that suggests there are a total of 34 chronic diseases associated with excessive sitting. These include heart disease, obesity, Type-2 diabetes and even cancer.
So What Can You Do?
You don’t have to run out and find a job that doesn’t plunk you at a desk all day, but you can make a conscious effort to weave more activity into your daily routine. Reducing TV time is a good place to start, especially when you check out the results of a recent study on 8,800 adults.
The study, which was published in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” discovered that each hour spent watching TV is associated with an 18 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Other ways to help keep “sitting disease” at bay include a range of small activities that can add up to big results throughout your day. Examples include:
· Getting up and moving around for 10 minutes every hour
· Stretching your legs
· Standing up during meetings, or even conducting walking meetings
· Walking over to your coworkers’ desks instead of emailing or phoning them
· Using a standing desk or treadmill desk
· Opting for the stairs over the elevator or escalator
Chiropractic care is another useful strategy for combating the unhealthy effects of a largely sedentary lifestyle. We can address poor posture, neck and back pain, and even give you a host of additional ways to incorporate more movement into your day. Call Sandstone or schedule your comprehensive exam with x-rays online.
