Are We Sitting Too Much ?

This article addresses the question “are we sitting too much?”

It is a great insight into how much time we spend sedentary throughout the day. Chances are you are reading this post while sitting! If this is you, know that you’re not alone. The Chiropractic Association of Australia (CAA) have recently looked into this issue and discovered that we spend a majority of time in our day sitting!

 

 

How long do we spend sitting?

The video featured above provides an analysis of how long the average office worker spends sitting throughout their day. Here are the statistics:

On average, 429 mins sleeping

81 mins commuting

97 mins sitting without a computer

337 mins sitting at a computer (that’s 5.5 hours)

71 mins sitting at their home computer

115 mins of personal use on their home computer

102 mins for other leisure activities sitting at a desk

132 mins on their couch usually watching television (2.25 hours)
That leaves only 73 mins on an average working day for standing, walking and exercising!
The CAA says “that is a fact worth making a stand about” it sure is!!

 

We are not designed to be sitting for extended periods of time. Yet it is still a common feature of many work environments that we are sitting too much!

 

How to minimise the effects of sitting too much.

It is not all doom and gloom as there are some things you can do which will help minimise the negative effects of sitting.

 

These include:

1.    Setting up your workstation ergonomically. Here is a website with information on the best way to sit at a computer.

2.    Take frequent breaks from sitting. Now, we know this may not be the simplest task when you are busy at work, but there are tools that can help! We recommend using the “Straighten up” App which notifies you to get up and move regularly!

3.    Regularly seeing your local Chiropractor.

 

For more information you can visit www.sitright.com.au this is an initiative of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia.

 

This article was written and sourced from:

https://chiropractors.asn.au/resources/health-initiatives/sit-right-2

https://chiropractors.asn.au/images/stories/videos/SitRight.mp4

http://www.ergonomics.com.au/pages/400_useful_info/420_how_to_sit.htm

What can poor posture do?

A landmark study has shown that spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse rate and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture. [1]

Posture 1 Posture 2

DID YOU KNOW?

The degree of forward head posture directly correlates with headache duration, headache frequency and presence of trigger points in the muscles at the base of your skull. So every inch that your head comes back will be less headaches. That’s a weight off my mind!! (Pun completely intended)[2]

heachache

HOW DOES POOR POSTURE EFFECT SO MUCH IN YOUR BODY?

Poor posture effects the nerve endings in the muscles of your neck which fire up and can stimulate the part of your nervous system that controls the heart and lungs. Not to mention that poor posture can dramatically reduce your lung capacity! [3]

Before Ben After Ben

Our Posture Experts at Spine and Health in North Sydney or Crows Nest can fix your posture so you experience less pain, improved health, better breathing and increased energy.  When your spine is in proper alignment, your entire body can benefit from better overall health and allow you to be the best you can be!

Contact our Chiropractors at Spine and Health, they are the experts in pain and posture. The chiro’s will conduct a thorough examination including a digital postural analysis and create an individual plan of action for you should they feel chiropractic care can help you and your posture.

 

References

[1] Postural and Respiratory Modulation of Autonomic Function, Pain, and Health. Lennon J, Shealy C, Cady R, Matta W, Cox R, Simpson W. AJPM (American Journal of Pain Management) 1994; 4:36-39.

[2] Trigger points in the suboccipital muscles and forward head posture in tension-type headache. Headache. 2006 Mar; 46 (3): 454-60. Fernandez-de-las-Penas C, Alonso-Blanco C, Cuadrado ML, Gerwin RD, ParejaJA.Department of Physical Therapy, University Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

[3] The Neurochemically Diverse Intermedius Nucleus of the Medulla as a Source of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Input to the Nucleus TractusSolitarii.  Ian J. Edwards, Mark L. Dallas, Sarah L. Poole, Carol J. Milligan, YuchioYanagawa, GáborSzabó, FerencErdélyi, Susan A. Deuchars, and Jim Deuchars. The Journal of Neuroscience, August 1, 2007, 27 (31): 8324-8333.

Proper posture makes you less stressed

Most of us have been told since we were kids how important proper posture is for maintaining good health. But, did you know that good posture also plays a big role in making you less stressed?

Good posture enables you to breathe properly so that more air can move in and out of the lungs. This results in more oxygen and blood reaching your brain, thereby reducing stress and anxiety and leaving you feeling happy and content. Our Chiropractors at Spine and Health Centre in North Sydney and Crows Nest can properly align your spine and fix your posture, so that you can experience pain free movement and less stress.

Reserve Energy for Less Stress

Proper and efficient use of your muscles allows you to use less energy while also preventing muscle strain and injury. A good example of this is not bending at the waist to lift something off the floor. Bending at the waist is incorrect. It puts unnecessary strain on your lower back and also causes you to use more energy than is necessary. Bending your knees while maintaining proper posture is the correct way to lift and will help you reserve energy for other tasks.

Our Posture Experts at Spine and Health can straighten your spine so that you can move while using less energy. With proper posture, you are able to use your muscles efficiently and correctly. This helps you avoid muscle strain and reserve energy for less stress.

Neck and Shoulder Pain Increases Stress

Neck and shoulder pain is a very common complaint among many people and can be a big reason for stress. Most neck and shoulder pain not caused by trauma is caused by having bad posture habits. One of the most common causes of this pain is forward head and shoulder posture. This happens when the neck sits forward, causing the head to be in front of the shoulders. Over time, this bad posture habit can put unnecessary stress on the lower neck vertebrae. Our Chiropractors at Spine and Health will properly align your spine to eliminate neck and shoulder pain and reduce stress.

Sit Up Straight for Less Stress

According to a 1988 study by Strack, Martin and Stepper, the position of the body can greatly influence the mind, mood and levels of stress. For example, if you sit up straight with your shoulders back and head up, you will feel more confident, happier and less stressed.

Sitting slouched with slumped shoulders tends to promote low levels of self-confidence and increased levels of stress and anxiety. A spine that is properly aligned will enable to you sit up straight without pain and will help you feel less stressed.

If you are experiencing anxiety or stress caused by the effects of poor posture, see our Posture Experts at Spine and Health in North Sydney or Crows Nest.
They can help fix your posture, which will reduce your stress levels dramatically. When your body is properly aligned by our Chiropractors at Spine and Health, you will experience less muscle strain and reduced stress, and your body will be able to work more efficiently.