The Dangers of Sitting: Why Investing in a Standing Desk Can Improve Your Health

Back Ache? The Fault With Our Evolution

Since the past, our ancestors wanted to get up, traditional bipedalism, a fancy term for walking on two legs has many benefits. With our two legs, we can do better with hunting and gathering. Unfortunately, living on two legs also has its drawbacks.

Our spine is the backbone that connects the brain to the health of the body. She needs continuous support from supporting muscles to reduce the load on the spine. Without muscle support, the back can support up to 5 pounds without falling. When muscled, the spine can withstand a load of up to 2000 kg, an increase of 400 times.

Many people who come to me with back pain often talk about the little things they did to get it, like picking up a pin from the floor. Injuries such as herniated discs can occur simply from lifting seemingly insignificant weights.

Not trying to lift 50 pounds – no, but with something simple – like a pen.

What this tells us is that your back damage is cumulative over time, a chaotic buildup. This means that the back pain is due to your daily bad habits; likewise, it is an undesirable consequence of spinal movement, but can be caused by normal life.

A sedentary lifestyle is the new smoking

54% of Americans with back pain spend most of their time sitting at work. But isn’t that something that’s supposed to ease your back?

No, quite the contrary. The connection between the bones of the spine has nothing to do with blood supply. Instead, these joints are fixed by a process called diffusion. Diffusion works because molecules (like oxygen, which is important in cells) are always on the move and trying to grab as much space as possible. An important factor in diffusion is the pressure difference.

The discs between the vertebrae are adapters and pumps. The disc is like a shock absorber and it needs to be in good shape for your brain and body to stay connected. During normal movement, the discs pump in nutrients and convert that energy into joints, tissues, cells, and even your DNA and nutrients as toxins are flushed out of the joints.

The Dangers of Sitting: Why Investing in a Standing Desk Can Improve Your Health

Sitting puts a lot of stress on the spine, an important neural pathway that communicates and connects between the brain and the body. So when your spine subluxates or your joints malfunction, your circulatory system doesn’t work as well. The flexible stance takes some of the stress off the spine and distributes it throughout the body.

Consider sitting down and moving around and standing.

Better than sitting is an upright posture. Stability relieves stress on the legs and communicates the neurovascular pathways between the brain and the body. If you are forced to work at a desk all day, you have two options.

Take a break of about three minutes every half hour. Set an alarm on your phone to go off every half hour! At the same time, you stand up and extend your arms, touching your feet to the ceiling. Breathe and do this exercise for 20 seconds.

Then gently swing your arms, legs, and buttocks for 10 seconds. Walk another 2 minutes around the office. You can have good food or water at this time. Exercise relieves your legs and walking ensures that your leg joints are used properly.

Make An Appointment

Make an Appointment with New Life Family Chiropractic Center to learn how investing in a standing desk can improve your health! Research has shown that sitting for prolonged periods of time can lead to a host of health problems including increased risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even some types of cancer.

By swapping your traditional desk for a standing desk, you can reduce the amount of time you spend sitting each day and improve your overall health. Our team of chiropractors can provide guidance and support as you make the switch to a standing desk. Book your appointment today to learn more about the dangers of sitting and how to take a step towards a healthier lifestyle!

References:

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