The majority of us spend most of our day sitting at a desk.
This can have short-&-long-term effects on our body & health.
Prolonged sitting causes the glutes, hip-flexors & hamstrings to shorten, compromising these powerful stabilizers & contributing to hip & lower back pain. These tight muscles affect gait & balance, making activities like walking & exercising harder. It may also contribute to lower back pain & knee stiffness, problems that many people suffer with every day.
Throw in poor posture or slouching whilst sitting & this can cause compression on the discs in your spine resulting in chronic pain.
Your shoulders & neck also suffer from prolonged sitting.
Muscles in your upper back & neck tense up causing serious aches & pains throughout your shoulders, neck, & upper back.
Sitting for long periods of time with your leg over your knee can cause your pelvis to rotate and tilt. This can cause pain in the lower back. It could also lead to a misalignment of your spine over time.
Sitting with one ankle tucked behind your other foot/leg can shorten the calf muscles, further contributing to such conditions as knee pain, ankle stiffness/instability, & plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the lining under the foot).
If your job keeps you at your desk for long periods of time, make sure that you take some time after work to get some physical activity and keep your muscles, tendons and joints in good working order is a good start.
However, breaking up long blocks of sitting to flex your muscles seems like a wise move for all of us, so try to build more activity into your day. Even a short walk every day can do a world of good.
Though office environments may not be conducive to getting all the activity we should every day, there are lots of little things you can do to turn your sedentary lifestyle into a more active one.
Set a timer to remind you to get up and move around every so often. Take your phone calls standing up. Try an adjustable standing desk for your computer.
Come & see our highly experienced Osteopath, Dr. Anne-Marie Noble, for a thorough assessment & treatment of any aches & pain associated with office posture & prolonged sitting. We can advise on office ergonomics & suggest stretches & exercises as part of an effective & realistic management plan