Do you work at a desk or sit most of the time? We should all be weary of, “The Chair”. How bad is this for your long term health? Sitting too long can do so much damage to our bodies in the long run. Sitting 6-8 hours a day can lead to long term conditions that can be costly and debilitating. Conditions below have been linked to sedentary lifestyles:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Anxiety/ Depression
- Obesity
- Spinal Conditions
- Muscle tightness
Much of the workforce today is made up of jobs that require you to drive or sit for long periods of time. We all have to make a living, it is a part of life as we need to provide. More and more companies are recognizing the need more movement in the workplace, but it is not enough.
Most people only consider weight gain as the possible effect of sitting too long. Truth is that it is literally killing us from the inside out. Bones, ligaments, organs, and muscles all are negatively affected by the common desk job we see today. According to the American Heart association, sitting too long can greatly increase the chances for heart failure. Heart disease is leading cause of death in America today, but many other conditions can also be caused by sitting for long periods of time, day in day out.
How can I prevent long term conditions?
You have to take charge and not wait till something goes wrong with your body. First step in combating conditions is to do more exercise and seeking advice on how to go about it. Knowing what skeletal, stabilizer and support muscles to target is what you need to prevent many problems involving your spine, organs and limbs. Second, is learning what you can do using ergonomics to lessen the brunt of the impact of sitting for long periods of time. Third, we can use certain stretches and movements to do in between the time sitting. (This last step also ties into the first step; there is always time to stretch.)
Whether is lower back, neck, weight, or conditions aggravated by sitting, we can help. Here at the Institute for Functional Health we can correct issues and get you on the right path to a healthier, more enjoyable life. We can cover all three steps with you to get you armed and able to attack pain or condition in the future. Our bodies were meant to move, free yours; you will feel better and live longer.
