Sitting and Back Problems (video)

If you have ever been to my office you may have noticed the sign that says “sitting rots your spine like sugar rots your teeth”. 

Many people who have health issues or back pain get confused when a problem seems to arise for no reason.  I typically hear people say “I didn’t do anything and ____ just started hurting”.  We really don’t consider sitting to be bad for us but the effects of sitting for long portions of the day, for more than six hours, can have a serious effect on our life expectancy.  A recent study done showed that people who sit for over six hours a day have up to a 40 percent greater risk of death over the next 15 years than those who sat for less than three hours a day.  For more information on how sitting causes problems and some ways to get around sitting please watch the video below.

I think one of the more surprising things from the research done on how sitting affects life expectancy was that it was the same for people that exercised as well.  The point being is if you sit for long periods of time, exercising does not balance the equation and erase all the negative affects.  We need to get more mobile and keep our spines moving on a regular basis.

Some tips for ways that we can keep mobile, even with a desk job, would be to stand when you can, go for walks on breaks, sit on a ball or sitting disc, walk to work or ride a bike, and I think the most creative way to be more mobile is to work from a treadmill desk.  I have not seen any studies done on productivity from a treadmill desk but it sounds interesting.

The full written article can be found here.

Dr. Aaron Cain has spent his life researching everything there is to know about health and maximum human performance. While earning his Doctorate of Chiropractic he also earned a Masters Degree in Sports Chiropractic, and the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

As the CEO of Fish Creek Chiropractic, a family chiropractic office, Dr. Cain has created a program that has helped thousands in the Calgary community to optimize their brain-body connection, eat better, move more and create a healthier state of mind. He maintains a busy family chiropractic practice, and finds time to implement the principles and practices of Life By Design in his own life.