Sitting is Bad for Your Health

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A new meta-analysis shows that sitting too much increases your risk of early death from any cause.  The other important finding is that this increases your risk even if you exercise.  Further, the study showed that the less active you were, the more likely you were to die prematurely.

Previous studies have also showed that you should get get up 35 times a day or get up about every 15 minutes throughout the day.

For many of our patients in the Christiansburg, Radford, and Blacksburg area, the struggle after successfully completing physical therapy has been finding a way to continue to exercise and keep moving afterwards.  Valley Sports & Spine Clinic and Valley Active are committed to finding a personal exercise plan to keep you regularly moving for a healthy lifestyle.

 

Good Luck!

 

Dr Ethan Colliver

Sitting is Bad for Your Health | Valley Sports & Spine Clinic

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Having a regular exercise routine is important; but, how much time you spend sitting throughout the day may be just as important.  A British Journal of Sports Medicine article in 2009 correlates total sitting time in a day to “an increase risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other prevalent chronic health problems- even if you exercise regularly.”  Research now suggests being active throughout the day, whether you like lawn care, gardening, hunting or fishing, for example, reduces your risk for cardiovascular disease and other chronic health conditions.

Long periods of sitting leads to a lack of muscle contractions and decreased blood flow.  Dr Vernikos, former NASA specialist, conducted research that supports getting up from sitting around 35 times a day to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.  The author of the cited article suggests setting a timer to remind you to stand up and move every 15 minutes.

Sitting with poor posture increases stress on your discs in your low back.  This is a common cause of back pain.  If you have a herniated disc, you may find sitting to be intolerable.  Avoid sitting for more than 15 minutes and avoid long car rides, as both will aggravate a disc injury.

To read more about prolonged sitting and your health, check out:
The Importance of Intermittent Movement For Longevity, by Dr. Mercola

Valley Sports & Spine Clinic
Giving you Back your Life
Dr. Ethan Colliver