Sitting for too long and
with bad posture is bad for your health the country’s
chiropractors advised today. They point out that increased computer use at work
and home means that over half of your day is spent sitting and that our sitting
habits can have significant impact on our overall health[2][3].
The New Zealand Chiropractors’
Association (NZCA) is joining with the Chiropractors Association of Australia
(CAA) to focus on a Sit Right campaign during May.
Dr
Hayden Thomas, chiropractor and spokesperson for the New Zealand Chiropractors’
Association explains: `We know that the body will adapt to cater to what you do most
often, so as your body adapts to constant
sitting it makes
you less skilled at basic functions like standing, walking, running and jumping[4].’
But Dr Thomas warns: `Sitting all day can
result in muscle stiffness, poor balance and
mobility, as well as pain in your lower back,
neck and hip. Research has shown that excessive sitting can be lethal[5].
The aim of this campaign initiated by our
colleagues in Australia is to highlight the problems associated with bad
posture. Many people don’t realise that when you
sit for extended periods in the wrong position this posture can stay with you even when
you stand or walk around[6].’
As part of the Sit Right
campaign The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia has developed a Sit Right
Widget as a simple tool to prompt computer users to take more regular breaks.
The default setting is to prompt for a break every hour, although users can
change these settings for 20 minute or 40 minute intervals after consulting
their local chiropractic healthcare professional.
For further information see
[2] Healy, G.N.
et al. 2007. ‘Objectively Measured Light-Intensity Physical Activity is
Independently Associated With 2-h Plasma Glucose’, Diabetes Care, Volume 30, Number 6, June 2007.
[3] Owen, N.
et al. 2009. ‘Too much sitting: a novel and important predictor of chronic
disease risk?’ Br J Sports Med February 2009
Vol 43 No 2.
[4] Masters,
M.,‘Why sitting all day is slowly killing you’, msnbc.com, 26 October 2010.
Retrieved 1/12/11 fromhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39523298/ns/health-mens_health/t/why-your-desk-job-slowly-killing-you/#.TtbIybK4qdA
[5] Vlahos, J., ‘Is Sitting a Lethal Activity?’, New York Times, 14 April 2011. Retrieved 2/12/11 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17sitting-t.html
[6] Masters,
M.,‘Why sitting all day is slowly killing you’, msnbc.com, 26 October 2010.
Retrieved 1/12/11 fromhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39523298/ns/health-mens_health/t/why-your-desk-job-slowly-killing-you/#.TtbIybK4qdA
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