We are designed to take over 20,000 steps/day, yet the average Australian only takes about 9,700 steps/day!

Prolonged sitting leads to a ‘loosening’ of the spinal ligaments and loading of the interveterbral discs, which can often result in low back injury from trivial bending movements.

Sedentarism or a lack of movement has been shown to affect our lifespan more than any other modifiable risk factor for disease including high blood pressure, obesity, alcoholism or smoking.

Research continues to show a direct correlation with increased physical activity levels and reductions in functional decline (frailty), coronary heart disease (CHD), and disability along with an increased life expectancy.

We live in a world of inactivity and increasing obesity, thanks greatly to devices and technological advances, which were originally designed to make our lives easier and free up more time in our lives. As a result, compared to our parents, we are now using less energy to do the same tasks, and it is taking its toll on our health. We are using about 5000 calories less per week today than we did 50 years ago, which equates to about two days worth of eating.

We often recommend 30 minutes of walking to a daily physical activity regime and advise against sitting for more than 20 minutes at any one time, by breaking up these periods with a standing stretch to allow the supporting structures a chance to ‘reset’ to prevent back injury and decompress the spine.

By making a few lifestyle modifications you quite easily can kick start your activity levels as well as your metabolism. Try a few simple things such as using the stairs instead of a lift or walking to destinations where possible.

At Northern Beaches Chiropractic Centre we can identify areas of your spine that lack movement and restore this much needed requirement of your nervous system to not only allow you to move better now, but also to prevent future breakdown and enable you to get the most out of the effort you put in.

References:

• Bassett DR, Wyatt HR, Thompson HP. Pedometer-Measured Physical Activity and Health Behaviors in U.S. Adults Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: October 2010; 42 (10));1819-1825.
• Warren TY, Barry V, Hooker SP, Sui X, Church T, Blair SN. Sedentary behaviors increase risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in men. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010; 42(5):879–85.