By now you may have heard a new catchphrase going around: “sitting is the new smoking.” This may sound like a bold claim, but is it possible that there’s actually some truth to it? Your chiropractor in Kingwood TX, Dr. Jeff Coy, wants to help his patients realize the potential health issues associated with sedentary behavior, and how chiropractic care should be your go-to solution for back pain and other problems caused by excessive sitting.
5 Reasons Why Too Much Sitting Can Be Bad For Your Body
Research shows that the average American spends up to 10 hours per day sitting. Even a 60 minute workout may not be enough to mitigate the deleterious effects of this much sedentary behavior, which includes:
- Increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and cancer, including cancer of the uterus, lung, and colon
- Back pain and impaired joint mobility (the natural human “sit” position is in a full-dept squat; this is something many indigenous people and toddlers can do easily, but most American adults cannot)
- Varicose veins and other symptoms of poor circulation, which may increase the risk of blood clots
- Impaired brain function, including decreased mood, mental clarity, and focus
- Impaired digestion (potentially leading to cramping, bloating, constipation, and/or heartburn)
So, what is it about sitting that’s so detrimental, exactly? One basic theory points to the idea that the human body evolved with frequent movement. After all, it’s easy to imagine the difference between ancestral life hunting and foraging on the plains vs. modern day life now! Our bodies just aren’t used to this much “downtime,” which means breakdown in tissue and physiological systems is bound to occur.
Prolonged sitting is also associated with decreased cellular metabolism and an overall disruption in basic physiological functions within the body. Plus, sitting imposes more strain on your back than standing, and may impair your muscle strength.
Do You Sit A Lot In Your Day-To-Day Life? Let Our Kingwood Chiropractor Help You
Fortunately, chiropractic care can help mitigate some of the problems associated with excessive sitting. For instance, our Kingwood chiropractor can adjust your spine to relieve pain, reduce pressure and strain on muscles and tissues in your neck, shoulder, and back, and restore normal joint alignment. Dr. Coy can also advise you on simple ways to get a little more movement (and a lot less sitting!) in your daily life. Other drug-free and non-invasive services that can help chronic sitters include corrective exercises, nutritional counseling, and soft tissue mobilization.
Are you sore and aching after a long day at your desk? Call Coy Chiropractic today to schedule your first appointment. Our number is (281) 359-5333
