Sitting is the NEW SMOKING

In the lead up to Spinal Health Week 2015, I will be talking about Spinal Care and help to raise awareness on how we can prevent certain spinal conditions. In a few posts from now I will also be addressing certain supplements we need to help in BONE and JOINT health, along with tips on how to sit at the desk and also exercises to help keep our spine mobile.

I did a training last week for our team and spoke about how our body adapts to our environment and this video makes us realise what a normal working day looks like and how much of the day we are sitting.  When we are in a position for such a long time, our body adapts and thinks that this is the position you want to be in. In a nutshell, your body switches on and off the muscles in order for us to do this. This is when we start to increase the pressure of our spine which then alters our biomechanics. Altering biomechanics of your spine often means it’s not sitting in its optimal position giving you limited range of motion, nerve pressure (which can exist without pain) repetitive strain and increase in muscle tone which often leads to pain, muscle weakness/clumsiness, headaches and other symptoms.

I want you to ask yourself honestly. Does this sound like a normal day to you?

1) when you get up in the morning you get ready and sit at the breakfast table (if you’re good at time management) or you rush out the door

2) sit in the car and park at the nearest bus stop or train station

3) sit on the train and bus while commuting to work

4) sit at the computer for almost 8 hours a day and if you are doing over time, sit at the computer some more.

5) finish work and sit on a train or bus back home

6) have dinner at the table

7) sit and relax in front of the computer or television with your partner, kids, family

8) go to sleep

9) start that whole routine again the next day

Watch this clip below and it will put into perspective how much you sit on an average day.