How Does Long-Term Sitting Affect Us, and What Can We Do About It?

 They are all conditions and symptoms that patients have told me they have acquired from long periods of required sitting at jobs, school, and hobbies during my 33 years in chiropractic practise. 

Ergonomics is a branch of science that has evolved to address the issues and concerns that have arisen as a result of the increased amount of

sitting that we are exposed to.

• This article will look at how prolonged sitting

• affects us and what we can do to reduce

• the negative consequences of

• sitting for too long.

Humans have not had much opportunity

or ability to sit around in the past.

 Most human populations were nomadic until

around 5000 years ago.

To get food, they walked to productive hunting areas. Alternatively, they walked to productive grazing areas for the cattle they reared.

They didn't get much of a chance to sit still for long periods of time.

Develop people for farming :-

Humans first developed farming technology around 5000 years ago. The Egyptians are credited with being the pioneers of large-scale farming.

While this did not necessitate a nomadic lifestyle

it did prevent these people from becoming couch potatoes.

Anyone who works in agriculture knows how much manual labour is involved.

Even during the more recent industrial age, our forefathers were engaged in physically demanding manual labour.

So, if we think about it

mankind has only recently begun to sit for extended periods of time in the last 50 to 75 years. 

We were creatures of movement before that

• throughout human history.

• Our bodies have evolved to walk long distances

• stand fully erect

and exercise large muscle groups by carrying

and lifting objects that are essential to our survival.

With preschool

elementary school

high school, college, and sedentary occupations, not to mention our use of computers and handheld technology devices, many of us now sit more than previous generations could ever imagine.

How do you deal with the negative effects of sitting?

• It's no surprise that we're afflicted with the ailments listed earlier in this article. Our great grandparents and great-great grandparents would probably be astounded that we go to health clubs and exercise classes to work our muscles. Most likely, all they wanted to do when they got home from work was relax.

• Nonetheless, it appears that we will be sedentary creatures for many generations to come. As a result, we will need to take steps to counteract the negative physical effects of our relatively sedentary lifestyle.

• The ergonomic condition of our work and home environments is one area to be aware of. A good chair, desk, and computer station are all essential. For an ergonomically perfect situation, there is no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all recommendation. There are numerous types of chairs that we can use.

Choosing the best chair :-

The best we can hope for in terms of finding a good chair is trial and error. Also, don't overlook seat cushions and padding, which can transform a mediocre chair into an ergonomically sound one. Similarly, a little attention to our desks and computer stations can almost certainly improve them.

 Anything we can do to sit up straight

• keep our wrists and hands in a comfortable neutral position

• keep our lower backs in a stress-free posture

• and keep our legs and feet well supported should be pursued.

It's also a good idea to think about getting a workstation that allows us to stand. A quick Internet search for a variable or upright desk will turn up a slew of options. The majority of these are low-cost and simple to set up.

In recent years

• I have recommended this to many of my patients in my practise.

• Those who were able to follow my advice

• were extremely pleased with the ergonomic improvements

• they were able to achieve.

The best prevention and treatment is walking :-

Of course, getting up and going for a walk is probably the best antidote to excessive sitting. Nothing beats walking to counteract the harmful effects of a long day of sitting, whether it's a walk to the water cooler, a lunchtime stroll, or a relaxed brisk walk after work.

Consider how you

can physically incorporate appropriate movement

and exercise into your daily routine by evaluating and assessing your workstation. These measures can have a significant impact on our health and mental behaviour in the short and long term.