As the weather changes, a lot of us will be spending more and more time inside. For many, both young and old, that means more time hunched over a computer or with the latest gadget, watching TV, reading, playing video games and all in all, spending a lot less time outdoors moving around.
Increased sitting has been called the new smoking when it comes to detrimental behaviors, and for good reason. According to WebMD, a growing body of research shows that long periods of physical inactivity raise your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. In 2010, British experts linked prolonged periods of sitting to a greater likelihood of disease, and Australian researchers reported that each hour spent watching TV is linked to an 18% increase in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, perhaps because that time is spent sitting down.
Then, of course, there is the harm that prolonged periods of sitting do to your musculoskeletal system. Eight out of 10 people report back pain at some point in their adulthood. In fact, about 25 percent of our adult population experienced pain within the past three months, and about 10 to 12 percent of these episodes were severe enough to require doctor visits. A common thread in those visits? You guessed it, a sedentary lifestyle.
It isn’t just adults that are suffering, young people are reporting problems too. The British Chiropractic Association reports almost one-third of 16 to 34-year-olds have lived with neck or back pain for up to a month at a time, and around 32% admit the problem can be triggered by sitting still for long periods of time.
So what’s the solution to back pain?
Simply getting up and moving around. If the weather is good, take a brief walk a couple of times a day. If the weather is uncooperative, take a break to get up and walk around the house or office to get your blood flowing. And if you have stairs, use them! A quick walk up a flight of stairs can burn up to 85 calories, not to mention strengthen your musculoskeletal system. A 10-minute break every 60-90 minutes can make a big difference.
If you aren’t sure where to start, or you have pre-existing mobility issues in your way, our team at Carlson Chiropractic Center can help you gain and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The bottom line, regular chiropractic care and a few minutes of walking or moving around each day can improve your health and overall quality of life!