Technology enables many to live a more connected and productive life. Yet, sitting in front of a screen for long periods can negatively affect the body, leading to issues like back pain and anxiety. In the guide below, find out how to protect yourself against such health risks.
How a Sedentary Lifestyle Affects Your Body
The human body's cardiovascular, digestive, and skeletomuscular systems work best when you're in an upright position. Long periods of sitting can cause the leg and gluteal muscles, which support and stabilize the body when standing and walking, to weaken. As such, the chances of sustaining injuries from a fall increase.
A sedentary lifestyle can also cause the hip flexor muscles to shorten, leading to pain and stiffness in the joints. Poor sitting posture also impacts your health. It can cause spinal compression, which affects the discs between the vertebrae. Due to this issue, you could experience chronic back pain.
Without movement, the leg and gluteal muscles weaken. As a result, they burn less sugar and fat, affecting the digestive system and leading to weight gain. Sitting all day can also affect your mental health, with people who live a sedentary lifestyle at higher risk for depression and anxiety.
Tips for Staying Healthy
Incorporating brief periods of standing or walking into your day can greatly reduce the health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Consider setting a timer on your phone that reminds you to stand or move around every 20 minutes.
If you're in the office, a quick stroll to the water cooler and back can help alleviate issues like a stiff neck or back pain. Walking or standing while taking phone calls or reading emails will also reduce your sitting time. You can also encourage yourself to be more active by moving items like a trash can or important files to the other side of the room.
When at home, take some time to practice low-impact, moderate exercises such as yoga, pilates, or swimming. These workouts can help rebuild the muscles in your legs and glutes. If you experience neck or back pain, a chiropractic adjustment can help relieve tension, improve posture, and counter the negative health effects of sitting all day.
Besides striving to spend less time sitting down, you can support your body and prevent back pain by visiting Mid Rivers Chiropractic in Saint Peters, MO. Serving residents of St. Charles county since 1979, they offer a holistic path to healing and wellness. They effectively diagnose the source of your discomfort and develop a comprehensive physical therapy plan. Call (636) 279-1400 today to schedule an appointment for back pain treatment.