Too Much Sitting: Do You Do It?
By Sara Butler
The Chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic see many patients who are seeking relief from low back and neck pain. Quite often the reason they experience this pain and discomfort is clear: They simply spend too much time sitting.
Between work, a commute, school for younger people, and then hanging out in front of your television at home, you likely do a lot of sitting over the course of the day. Too much, according to chiropractors! All this sitting can have an impact on your health and wellness, including your spinal health. Here's what you need to know about the effects of sitting too much and how chiropractic can help.
The Problem With Sitting
When you sit for long periods of time without moving, then it puts a lot of stress and strain on your spine -- especially your lower back and hips. Throw getting tired while sitting and letting your posture go by the wayside and you've now got pain and discomfort that can extend to your legs, arm, and neck -- not to mention issues with your circulation and internal organ function.
What You Can Do
To reduce the impact sitting has on your life you should be prepared to start practicing a few new habits each day. These include:
- Taking frequent breaks - Take breaks throughout the day, at least once each hour, to move around and stretch. This breaks you out of your posture and also helps to get your blood pumping and keep your muscles warmed up and not locked in position.
- Change positions - You should try to change positions frequently so that your muscles don't become fatigued and your posture doesn't worsen throughout the day.
- Stretch often - Easy and simple stretches are all you need to help counteract the effects of too much sitting.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
Seeing a chiropractor for hands-on adjustments regularly can help to eliminate dysfunctions that can make the effects of sitting worse. They can also work with you on a treatment plan and exercises to help give you actionable items you can do each day to combat the impact sitting can have on your health and wellness. That's why, if you have questions, the chiropractors at The Joint are a great place to start!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.