 |
| Credit: Flickr/ramsey beyer |
In September, the White House ordered $700k worth of standing desks. Recently, sitting for excessive periods of time have been associated with decreased life span and various other health problems. This is a summary of some important points from another article which is already very brief and concise so I felt I would not change anything. Besides just copying text from another article, I wanted to give my opinion as a health professional who sees patients with pain every day. Sometimes, what sounds good theoretically may not work in real life. There is even discussion and study of a treadmill desk with all this talk about how dangerous sitting desks are. I think it is taking it a step too far to say sitting causes you to die faster by saying something that we already know and twisting it to grab headlines. Sitting to work, eat or relax for entertainment is just a result of our modern society. Having a sedentary lifestyle is the real problem with excessive sitting. There are issues with certain muscles that tighten up because one sits for a long time that is directly related to back pain and even neck pain. I wouldn't go as far as to say that it will make you die faster. It would be fine with me for a patient to try a treadmill desk as I promote exercise with my patients. I don't think it is practical as I don't think I would concentrate well walking as I am working.A reduced risk of obesity. People who are "fidgety," researchers say, tend to be thinner than those who stay still all day. A lower risk of metabolic problems and cardiovascular disease. Research suggests that sitting for too long can mess up your body's metabolism of sugar and fat, which can contribute to diabetes and heart disease. A reduced risk of cancer for women. Though it's unclear how exactly sitting increases the risk of cancer, it's possible that sitting for too long decreases metabolism, and may have an effect on body fat and estrogen levels, all of which may be linked to the development of some cancers. A lower long-term mortality risk, presumably because you're less likely to die from issues like diabetes and cancer. One study found that if Americans limited their sitting to just three hours per day, life expectancy could increase by two years. Increased productivity and focus. One study found that people were 10% more productive when they used a standing desk compared to when they were sitting. Participants in the study noted that they found it easier to concentrate when they were standing.
ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified
FAKTR Certified
Disclaimer: The content in this blog is for informational purposes only and an opinion for specific individualized circumstances. It is not a prescription for therapy or diagnosis for you. All opinions expressed and any referenced articles are solely those of the particular author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Anthony Tsai, Graston Technique®, its employees, providers or affiliates. Any opinions of the author on the site are or have been rendered based on scientific facts and/or anecdotal evidence, under certain conditions, and subject to certain assumptions, and may not and should not be used or relied upon for any other purpose, including but not limited to for use in or in connection with any legal proceeding. If there is any issue with the content or images on this blog, contact us an we will remove it immediately. Please refer to http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/ for more information.
References:
http://www.businessinsider.com/standing-desks-healthier-office-space-accessories-2015-9
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-white-house-requests-standing-desks-2015-10
http://www.businessinsider.com/using-a-treadmill-desk-can-make-you-less-productive-2015-6
Comments