Excessive Sitting Costs America Billions!
September 29, 2009
The Bottom Line On Sitting
It’s not your work that’s killing you. It’s the sitting. Millions of people working from their home and offices spend way too much time in their chairs. A habit that can lead to more than just a numb bum!
Too much sitting sets you up for a host of physical problems including poor circulation, chronic back and nerve pain, depression, osteoporosis, swollen spinal disks, fatigue and many other health problems. Women should be especially alerted as they are more likely than men to hold jobs requiring them to sit the majority of the time.
Stand Up for Yourself Health Savers
The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has coined its own term for “sitting sickness”. It recently identified Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS) as a growing life-threatening risk for many unsuspecting Americans. No need to worry though. You can stand strong against SeDS and other workplace “bummers” with these ten Health Savers:
50/10 Rule: don’t sit for more than 50 minutes. Set a timer and take ten when it rings.
- Be a swinger: Stand with hands on your hips and legs slightly more than shoulder width apart. Rotate hips clockwise in a full range of motion ten times. Reverse it. Second, stand next to your desk. Put all your weight on the right leg and gently swing the left leg in front of and behind you 10X. Repeat with other leg.
- Don’t Be a Crooked Sitter or Sloucher
- Take your lunch break: Get up and go somewhere even if you bring something in.
- Go mobile: attach a portable unit to your stationary phone or use a cell.
- Hold “meetings on the move”: meet clients on a hiking trail or outdoors.
- Put a lumbar PILLOW in Your Chair
- Invest in an ergonomic chair
- Stand up and surf: raise your Workstation or monitor so you can net surf and type while standing.
- Go To The Gym- But Stay Off the Stationary Bike
- SEE YOUR CHIROPRACTOR FOR PREVENTATIVE CARE.
Be Kind to Your Spine
Sitting is to the spine like sugar is to the teeth. Make sure you receive regular chiropractic check-ups and adjustments. These gentle realignments of the spine can re-enforce the structure and stamina of your circulatory, central nervous and muscular systems. You can also ask your chiropractor about nutritional, exercise, stretching and hydration techniques. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of NOT having to find a cure. So, stand up for yourself.
Comments
9 Responses to “Excessive Sitting Costs America Billions!”
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As someone that spends a lot of my day sitting, I really appreciate these tips. I’ve started setting a timer across the room for 50 minutes to get me up and moving at least once an hour. Thank you!
Wow…depression, fatigue, nerve pain…this explains ALOT as it really applies to how much I have been sitting lately. Ok, I will be more up and at em! Thanks for the article
i like to use ergonomic chairs at home because it supports longer working hours:.:
Yes Robert, good chairs are essential! Also remember to use the 50:10 rule, 50 minutes of sitting means you need to get up and move for 10 minutes! Our bodies do not like to sit for long periods and no matter how great a chair we have – we still need to take breaks to get up and move!
i love ergonomic chairs because you can sit on them all day long without hurting your back.;.
I’m glad you have an ergonomic chair Mohammed! They definitely lessen the strain on your body. Our bodies love motion and it is STILL a good idea, even with the BEST chair, to get up and move every 50 minutes. Take a short walk around the office, get some water, go to the bathroom and back to the desk!
i love ergonomic chairs because they are more relaxing compared to conventional chairs *
It’s like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pictures to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
Glad you found the information helpful Amanda! Thanks for commenting and visit us again soon!