I’ve just finished reading the book by Michael Easter called ‘The Comfort Crisis’. He reports that 3/4 of our jobs are now sedentary. The implications of this on our health are mostly negative.

It is true that sedentary jobs, in which people spend long periods of time sitting or otherwise inactive, have become increasingly common in recent years. This trend has been linked to a number of negative health outcomes, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Sedentary behaviour has also been associated with poor mental health and cognitive function. It is important for you to try to incorporate physical activity into your daily routines, even if your jobs are sedentary, in order to maintain good health. This could include taking walks during breaks, using standing desks, or engaging in regular exercise outside of work. 

It saddens me to think that many of our patients could feel so much better if they arranged their workplaces to maximise movement.

Making an effort to incorporate more movement and physical activity into one’s daily routine can have numerous health benefits. Some ways to do this include:

-standing or walking during phone calls or meetings

-taking breaks to stretch or walk around the office

-using a standing or treadmill desk

-participating in group fitness classes or sports during lunch breaks or after work.

It can also be helpful to set goals for physical activity and track progress, as this can help to motivate and maintain good habits.

Yes, ‘working out’ is good for you but the body is designed to move a little and often. That means that 30 minutes of exercise even if done daily, doesn’t combat the negative effects of blood flow, lymphatic flow, air exchange etc that sitting for most of the day (or standing still for most of the day) does to the body.

It is important for people to move frequently throughout the day, not just engage in one period of intense exercise. While getting regular exercise is important for overall health, it is also important for people to incorporate more movement into their daily routines in general. Some research has also suggested that taking short, frequent breaks to move around and stretch can help to alleviate the negative effects of prolonged sitting or standing. It is also a good idea to vary your posture and position throughout the day, as this can help to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal problems. We’d love to achieve, with you, less need for osteopathic treatment. 

Our goal is to have you need us less!!!

I use a small wooden table (it’s tiny!) that means I have to sit on the floor to do my patients’ notes. As a result, I get up and down at least 50 times a day! My glute muscle tightness, hip mobility and knee issues are all gone! Initially I used an up-cycled beer crate from the local liquor store! I now have a bespoke wooden desk made by a patient.

Imagine if you could  incorporate more movement into your work routine! It is true that sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time can be detrimental to your health, and finding ways to incorporate more movement can help to alleviate these negative effects. Using a small table that requires you to sit on the floor and get up frequently can be a simple but effective way to increase your daily activity levels.  It is important for you to find what works best and to make an effort to prioritize your health, even if you have a sedentary job.

In summary, how imaginative can you be? 

Let’s all start to think outside the box and come up with as many creative ideas as we can to incorporate movement into our days. 

It’s all possible – takes a little effort for big gains.

Let’s summarise some ideas to get you started:

Take breaks to stretch or walk around the office.

Use a standing or treadmill desk.

Participate in group fitness classes or sports during lunch breaks or after work.

Set goals for physical activity and track your progress.

Stand or walk during phone calls or meetings.

Use a small table that requires you to sit on the floor and get up frequently.

Incorporate exercises into your daily routine, such as lunges or squats.

Use a stability ball as a chair to promote active sitting.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Walk or bike to work, if possible.

If you’d like more ideas, come and see our clinic. 

We have an outdoor obstacle course (suitable for adults and children), rocker board, rocks to mobilise your feet, a rock climbing wall and we are a no shoes clinic so that we are able to get a better understanding of your natural gait and alignment. 

The possibilities are endless!

Post your ideas under this blog and let’s share these concepts to help each other to feel healthier, stronger and as a result, needing less medication and intervention as we grow older.

Check out a video of how I use a low desk to minimise the effect of arthritis in my knees and hips.

https://youtu.be/cG6inezA8xQ