If You Cut 21 Minutes of Daily Sitting, What Happens?
By Sandy Schroeder
Sitting too much has been compared to smoking as a health danger. Not surprising, it’s a hot topic in our culture. Everywhere you look people are sitting in front of computers or bent over laptops and phones. They also drive a lot, sit to eat dinner, and frequently kick back on the couch to play video games or watch a show.
So what would happen if 21 minutes (about the actual length of a TV sitcom) of sitting were subtracted each day?
That’s the question some Finnish researchers from the University of Jyvaskyla, asked a group of office workers with young children, when they conducted a yearlong study. Their control group remained sedentary pursuing their normal schedule. The intervention group learned ways to fit more walking into their busy lives, cutting sitting time by 21 minutes daily. Overall, the researchers found sitting less improved some fasting glucose levels, and helped maintain muscle mass.
Other studies have shown extended daily sitting time links to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.
Want to Try the 21-Minute Chop?
If you would like to try chopping 21 minutes of sitting out of your schedule to improve your health, your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic is well equipped to help. The Joint doctors of chiropractic help people of all ages pursue health and wellness every day.
Bring your goals, and get to know your chiropractor. Together you can discuss any current pain that you have, and outline a plan to reduce sitting time.
A gentle, targeted spinal adjustment to correct any existing joint restrictions may relieve any pain and create a fresh sense of well-being. Weekly 15-minute adjustments may help you stay at your peak, and work on sitting reductions. Your chiropractor can monitor your progress and provide tips. (As always, before beginning new exercises check with your doctor.)
- Evaluate your current schedule and use 15-minute morning and afternoon breaks to get up and get moving
- Use 15 or 20 minutes of lunch time to walk, stretch or do standing exercises
- At home, get up 20 minutes early and do a brisk walk or stretching exercises
- With small children, use nap time to walk on a treadmill, skip rope, or stretch
- When taking older children to afterschool activities, use the waiting time to take short walks
- When traveling for business, use hotel gyms, walk in the airport, and walk between meetings
Over time the “stand and move” response that cuts sitting time may become more and more automatic, helping you maintain and improve your health.
Stop by The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you to get started. Find out about the affordable personal care plans that require no insurance. Weekend and evening hours are available and walk-in visits are welcome. No appointments are needed.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Colorado Springs, Colo.