Sitting can be detrimental to your health. It’s vital to understand the signs of how sitting may be impacting your regular, daily life. Increased sitting time (sometimes called the Sitting Epidemic) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, and some types of cancers. Some are even saying sitting is the new “smoking”—it can be that negatively impactful to your health.
Did you know? 86% of Americans sit all day at work. And that can quickly show up in your body. Do you feel:
This is your body trying to communicate to you that something is wrong, and you should get up off of your chair.
Throughout your day, it may be helpful to try different things to minimize symptoms from sitting too much.
While any movement is better than none, it’s recommended to have 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week, spread throughout the week in more than 10-minute spurts. Go for a brisk walk on your lunch break. Hit the gym in the early morning or after work. Bike to work. Run to your favorite coffee shop on the weekend.
It can be hard to stay active, but it’s made easier if you find a few workarounds. For example, you can invest in a standing desk. These became highly popular during the pandemic when everyone was working from home and barely moving around the house. (When meetings are always in the same place—you get even less activity in your day.) Adding a treadmill to your standing desk, or using an exercise ball as your chair are added things that can keep you going throughout the day. Sitting is fine—for a limited time.
In addition to these home office customizations, you can also add little moments of activity to your day to break up all the sitting.
If you work in an office, these little tricks might be helpful as well:
If you’re experiencing pain when you’re sitting, that’s abnormal. If you’re experiencing soreness, that’s also an issue. Please make an appointment with our chiropractic providers so we can help you find the root of the problem, and help you alleviate and manage the pain, soreness, and discomfort you’re experiencing.
It’s best for both of us if you can give us all the details about why you’re in pain. This gives us the opportunity to advise you best and create a treatment plan and recommendations that will get you on the road to recovery.
If you’re wondering what you should do between your appointments with the chiropractor, you can always ask for additional clarification. We’re happy to give you clarity around what prescribed exercises will be helpful, and what other modifications you should employ. It may also be helpful for you to keep an eye out for signs of either improvement or worsening and keep us updated on those so we can adjust your treatment plan as necessary.
At our chiropractic office, we offer far more than adjustments. Many of these added services and tools can be helpful for those who are either sore or in pain from sitting. In your day-to-day, you can use items from us like salves and creams, resistance bands to build up strength, and you can use a prescription pillow and cushions. There are so many tools and other items that can help aid your recovery, and we’ll guide you toward the one(s) that will work best for you.
It’s time to kick the sedentary lifestyle—also known as the “sitting disease”. Get out of the chair. Go outside. Read while standing. Park farther away and walk there. Whatever you need to do to help improve your health and your life, do it! Let us know how we at Shephard Chiropractic Clinic can help you make and keep your goals in regards to staying active.
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