Have you heard that sitting is the new smoking?
Think of all those hours we spend sitting in front of our computers, on comfy couches binging on our latest fav series, and even the hours we spend sitting in cars commuting or shuttling our kids to and from activities. Researchers have looked at a number of studies and determined that those who sit for more than 8 hours a day with no physical activity have increased risks to their health similar to that of smoking! One study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that prolonged sitting was associated with an increased risk of 34 chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Who would think that sitting could be so hard on us? But no worries – there are some strategies you can use to minimize the effects of sitting.
Move More! For every 30 min that you sit – take a few minutes to stand and move. Walk into the kitchen to get a glass of water, climb a set of stairs, stand and stretch, use your breaks to go for a short, brisk walk, dance around the living room to your favourite song. Anything goes that gets you moving!
Looking for a stretch to help combat the effects of sitting? Try this!
Perhaps you’ve been given a few stretches during one of our chiropractic sessions. See what you can do to fit a few minutes of stretching in during the day. It can really help you get the most out of our sessions if you stretch between visits.
Keep an eye on your own sitting hours, see what you can do to tweak your daily routine. Take a “stand” and reduce those health risks!