This year, there has been a lot of debate on whether to sit, stand, kneel, or rub your head while patting your stomach. Due to American’s extended work weeks and technological advances, our need to stand up and move has significantly decreased. You may have even heard’ “sitting is the new smoking.”
We are starting to see the impact that a sedentary lifestyle has on an individual and society as a whole. The American Medical Association agrees that prolonged periods of sitting have significant adverse effects on personal health.
Here are some statistics…
-Over 66% of American adults are either overweight or obese
-5 of the top 10 leading causes of death in America are associated with obesity
-Obesity is directly linked to arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions
-Estimated annual cost associated with obesity is over $125 billion dollars
-Average American work week is 35-40 hours (much of this time is spent sitting @ the desk)
-Sedentary individuals who spend at least 8 hours a day sitting are more than 50% more likely to die in the next 10 years, compared to their active counterparts. (60-75 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week).
So obviously there is a simple solution for the desk jockeys… STAND UP! One new trend is the standing work station. However, we should not neglect the fact that a reason we transitioned to desk, was due to long periods of standing (seen in the industrial era). A good take home point is this, too much of anything can be bad. Long periods of sustained posture can create many different postural imbalances that can lead to pain and injury. Bob Marley said it best, “Get up, stand up…”
Some tips to stand more throughout the day…
-take the stairs
-park in the back of the lot (this could avoid nasty door ding too)
-stand while on the phone
-while at work, take frequent water and restroom break (you can tackle hydration, two birds one stone)
Call us to schedule an appointment, or for an assessment of your work station
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