The Sitting Disease

The sitting disease – A recipe for pain

One of the biggest problems I have seen over the last few years is the connection between pain and sitting. It astounds me the number of people who come in to my office complaining of hip pain, back pain, neck pain, headaches, muscle tears etc who lead sedentary lives either by way of their occupation, lifestyle or usually both.

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the sitting disease

Unfortunately life is getting busier and more demanding and largely, society is sitting too much! When I ask you if you would classify yourself as a sitter or a mover, which one would you be? Funnily enough almost everyone can answer this question.

IT DRIVES ME CRAZY WHEN A PROBLEM SUCH AS LOWER BACK PAIN CAN BE SO EASILY PREVENTABLE JUST BY INCREASING YOUR GENERAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND LIFESTYLE CHOICES.

Using lower back pain as an example, I want to highlight the way in which a sitting based sedentary lifestyle will impact you.

  • Sitting creates a proven reduction in metabolic rate – meaning you burn way less calories
  • Sitting causes loss of flexibility in your hips and pelvis
  • Burning less calories means you put on weight quickly and have a hard time losing it
  • Increased weight (especially abdominal fat) makes your important core muscles function poorly
  • Poorly functioning core and tight hip/pelvis muscles load your lower back excessively – especially your discs and joints

The sitting disease results in

  • Pain and disability – often very severely
  • Chronic disease such as TYPE 2 diabetes – a real disaster for anyone!

Rant over! I would really like to share my top tips for avoiding sitting related pain

  1. MOVE
  • if you are in a sitting based job at a desk look into standing for periods. There is a great new product out called VARIDESK – Click here for website
  • plan 30-40 min of your day where you will dedicate to formal exercise (walk, jog, stationary bike, swim, gym)
  1. EDUCATE YOURSELF
  • Education is everything – check out this 60 mins report into sitting disease. Click here
  1. SEEK ADVICE
  • Physiologic’s clinicians can provide you with the necessary plan and advice to begin a program
  • If you have pain and are unsure about which exercise to do contact us. Don’t make excuses – you need to exercise to stay healthy

If you have any questions shoot me an email – josh@physiologic.com.au