Movement is the Elixir for Good Health

Enjoy this beautiful walk along the bay in St. Augustine, Florida, getting outside, standing up right, moving your body & enjoying life... (It is literally what your body needs!)  Photo Courtesy of Charly Caldwell II

The 2020's, or as I like to call it ~ the longest decade in history, has seen many of us working from home, sitting in front of computer screens, and spending more time in one place.

Whether it’s at your home or office desk, driving your car or watching television, long periods of sitting can have adverse effects on your health.

Scientists have identified a new threat from people’s sedentary lifestyles that they call ‘muscular inactivity’.

Sitting has always been regarded as bad for your posture.

Here’s why — 

It is physically impossible to maintain perfect posture for your entire seated day.

Sitting invokes what is known as the ’double flexed’ position.

Your body is flexed at the hip and the knee. Flexion is a term used to describe bending or decreasing the angle at a joint when it moves.

When we are standing upright, both our hip and knee joints are at a 180-degree angle.

When we are seated, both the hip and knee joints are at 90-degree angles.

The biggest issue with a constant state of flexion (i.e. sitting) is that the muscles that cross over the hip and knee joints become short and tight (i.e. hamstrings, hip flexors).

This often causes a muscular imbalance within the body, in turn affecting your posture.

Consequently, the balancing muscles on the other side of the hip and knee joints become longer than normal, creating a weakness. Not only does this affect the hip and knee joints, but the back and spine can also become problematic.

Millions of people lead sedentary lives, spending their days between car, bus, office desk and the couch.

Until now, it had been believed that we can offset this sedentariness with trips to the gym, swimming pool or running.

However, researchers are now saying that this is not enough.

In addition to their regular exercise, people need to keep moving while they work.

Whether to make a trip to the printer, coffee machine or to talk to a colleague.

Getting up and moving around every 45 minutes is ideal.

In addition, as technology evolves and products are released to make our lives easier, we tend to become less active as well.

Devices such as tablets, smartphones, on-demand entertainment and virtual assistants enable us to stay in one spot to work, communicate and control our lives.

We literally don’t have to move all day.

We are meant to move though. We are built to walk, run, squat and jump. Sitting down all day is detrimental to our health.

So, next time you’re sitting down at your desk, staring at your laptop or watching TV, take a break, get up and move.

Walk around the office, stretch your legs. Not only will it give you a break, it will be better for your health.

Angie Ferguson is an exercise physiologist and Tony Robbins Results Coach from Fort Myers, Florida. She also is a Corrective Biomechanics Specialist, USA Triathlon Advanced Level 2 coach, USA Cycling coach, has a Specialty in Sports Nutrition certification, and a PhD in results!  

If you're looking for continual support, direction, guidance & accountability join Angie's Monthly Program here, and we'll help you look, feel and be your very best!