Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Get up Stand up.

who woulda thunk we weren't designed to sit down for 16 hours a day day in and day out? Sitting not only ruins backs it seems it also keeps us fat .

Interesting article here

*edit*
this also is a good reason to substitute a stability ball for a regular chair. The stability ball,because it is always in motion, requires one to constantly 'fidget" around to stay stable, which might be similar to the 'puttering' they mention in the article.It certainly is much better for your back, abs and balance.

16 comments:

Jim Ryan said...

Good one, Rif. Compelling. Not sure what multi-millions of folks can do about it, but getting off yer #ss whenever you can makes more sense than ever.

Mark Reifkind said...

I think everyone can take some time to stand up, shift around move the joints, stretch in place, etc.every so often.Its just changing habits but I think it can make a world of difference in postural issues as well as repetitive stress issues.
as far as it burning more fat then if standing helps the mo better.

Mark Reifkind said...

also, the standing z drills for neutral spine lengthening are some of the most powerful for me of all their movements.so just that would help as well if nothing more for people that have to sit continuously.

Taikei Matsushita said...

This convinces me to get out of my computer engineer career and go for full time trainer!
I'm sitting long hours but can't stand it lately.

Brett Jones said...

"Motion is life"

Mark Reifkind said...

even before learning some Z my first rule after a tweak or an injury was to restore full range of motion first. this is even more important than I thought.motion is life and the more I can move the better I feel.

Mark Reifkind said...

takei,

you are fully on that road brother. won't be long now.

Russ Beye said...

Wow! That is some really interesting stuff! So I guess my hyperkinesis (which makes me process EVERY bit of stimuli in my enviroment) is actually a good thing! At least it keeps me up and moving constantly. I can only sit for short periods of time before getting antsy.

Anyway, great article Rif! I am definitely going to forward this along to my peers.

D Silveri said...

Very True! Sadly I sit for a good portion of the day at work, when Im in the office. I wish I was out.

There are numerous studies that show the body functions better when upright. respiratory, bladder, digestion, alertness, all are better operating when a person is standing upright, hence ergo desks, and standing wheelchairs.

Sitting sucks!

Mark Reifkind said...

russ,

wow, so there is name for that eh? I have that too.good to know I not alone, just insane,lol.

dustin,

you are so right. on my website on the portion about the kb as a "solution" I have it as a "solution to life seated". very true.

Brett Jones said...

Rif,
Going to have to disagree with the stability ball replacement for the chair - I find people have a much easier time slumping and using bad posture and the "fidgeting" benefits of the "unstable" surface are blown WAY out of proportion and may even be detrimental (through the arthrokenetic reflex).
Noting beats actually getting up and moving.
And you can practice many of the Z drills seated and improve your posture and response to sitting.

Mark Reifkind said...

brett

I dont see how the ball can cause more joint compression than sitting on a hard surface.I know about the bosu 'test' but it hasnt been explained to me enough yet to beleive it.
I have used a stability ball for a chair for almost ten years and can totally feel the difference in my back if I am forced to sit in a chair for long periods.
Of course you can slump sitting on a ball or in a chair but used with a modicum of awareness of body position I think the ball superior to a chair. just having the back rest alone encourages one to slump.
Plus if one slumps on a ball at least the abs and torso get engaged muscularly.
I like the get up and move for sure but I still vote for the ball. I can tell when my clients have switched back from the ball to a hard chair. Their joint ROM goes down and muscle tightness goes up pretty dramatically.
Its very easy to fall into the same body position in a hard chair as their is so much support.

D Silveri said...

yea i agree. just saying a lot of people down always see effects of sitting all day.

hey did you get my package in the mail i sent you?

Mark Reifkind said...

dustin,

no not yet. will let you know.

Franz Snideman said...

sitting kills people......cubicle life is brutal on the body!!!!

Mark Reifkind said...

franz, I agree. I see more pain and dysfunctional bodies from the aftermath of professional 'sitters' than almost any activity.KB are the solution to life seated.

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