Is Sitting At Work As Damaging As Smoking? It Could Be!
Is Sitting At Work As Dangerous As Smoking? It Could Be!
You’ve probably heard it over and over again; sitting at work is the new smoking. But what is all the buzz about? Well, The discussion revolves around the benefits of standing more during the day, compared to potential health risks associated with sitting for 6-8 hours each day. A study published in the UK recommends that office workers spend at least two hours a day on their feet. This study also associates sitting with every serious illnesses; it links individuals who sit for 65-75% of working hours with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
So what type of changes can you do to improve your health? Depending on your job, some tasks could be better to perform while sitting such as drawing, whereas reading, responding to emails, and having meetings can be productively performed while standing. In fact, there is a new trend in the work force called “active coffee meetings” where rather than sit for 30min over coffee discussing their agenda, workers are opting to walk a few blocks of the city with a take-away coffee.
Now, you can also introduce other type of physical activity into the day such as taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Adopting lifestyle changes can assist with reducing the amount of time you spent sitting at work, achieving daily physical activity goals, reduce pressure on your spine and improve mental focus. It is also recommended to your work set-up is adjustable between sitting and standing, However, You need to watch out for your posture; it is just as important when standing for prolonged periods.
One tip for women; avoid wearing high heels whilst standing at your desk. Heels will likely make you tilt your pelvis forwards, increasing the curvature of your lower back, and shortening your calf muscles.
Finally, if you are suffering from back pain, and would like to get it treated, contact us at any of our clinics!
How Can PhysioChiroWellness Help?
At PhysioChiroWellness Integrated Health Centre our highly-skilled practitioners work together to create fully integrated health solutions that may include physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, naturopathy, medical aesthetics amongst others. Our professionals will work together towards achieving an optimal health for all our patients through a holistically approach when treating any condition or pain they may present. This service is provided in our Ajax, Mississauga, Newmarket, & Vaughan clinics and can be booked at any time.
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