Why Sitting is the New Smoking & How Exercise Can Help

Did you know that sitting for extended periods of time can be detrimental to your health? 

According to Statistics Canada, 12% of adults aged 18 to 79 spend 8 or more hours being sedentary, and 50.1% of participants reported increased sitting habits. Studies show that extended periods of sitting can increase the risks of developing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and conditions such as heart diseases, or cancer at earlier ages. Additionally, prolonged sitting is also associated with deconditioning of the muscles of the body which in turn can impact your quality of life and lead to issues such as back and neck pain.

Fortunately, there is a way to avoid the negative impacts of sitting. Regular physical activity has been shown to counteract the effects of sitting. It’s important to highlight that even regular leisurely activities can count towards your daily physical activity. Going for a walk, mowing the lawn, riding a bike are all examples of normal daily activities that can be used to combat the effects of prolonged sitting.

What are the benefits of regular physical activities? 

• Helps regulate weight 
• Can be used as a preventative tool to reduce risks of developing different cardiovascular diseases
• Improves mood and boosts energy 
• Helps maintain the function of major muscles and can even improve the health of muscles
• Helps with maintaining the mobility and function of major joints
• Can be fun! 

The World Health Organization suggests that adults participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate to high intensity physical activity per week. 

Here are some ways you can implement physical activity in your daily life:

• Take break from sitting every 30 minutes
• Take breaks to stand and walk around while binging your favorite show, or studying. 
• Take an early morning or evening walk or walk your pet 
• Go for a recreational swim, or join an aquatics class
• Join a group activity class such as Zumba, Yoga, or Spin
• Exercise with a friend
• Play a recreational sports such as soccer, tennis, basketball or hockey

Don’t let back and neck pain from too much sitting pervade your life! Be sure to stay active and keep moving. If you need help from pain or injury caused by too much sitting, contact us to book with a qualified Ace practitioner today!