Quit Your Desk Job… Research Says it’s Bad for You.

by | Jul 1, 2019

A new study in the Journal of Applied Physiology has found that, “people who are physically inactive and sitting for a majority of the day, a 1-h bout of vigorous exercise failed to improve lipid, glucose, and insulin metabolism measured the next day. It seems that something inherent to inactivity and/or prolonged sitting makes the body resistant to the 1 h of exercise preventing the normally derived metabolic improvements following exercise.”

What does this mean in plain English? If you sit more than 13 hours per day, even an hour of exercise isn’t enough to combat the ill effects. Do you really sit for 13 hours per day… maybe: commute + desk job + commute + meals + watch a show.

But, you say, this is a chiropractic blog. Why does my chiropractor care about my sitting? In 15 years of practicing chiropractic, I see expodentially more neuro-musculo-skeletal (nerve-muscle-bone) issues from sitting than I ever have from slips, falls, or other accidents. In addition to the problems mentioned in this research, sitting all day:

Puts increased (and sometimes excessive) pressure on your low back

Leads to shortened psoas muscles (which cause low back issues)

Leads to a slumped posture if you’re not careful

Can lead to chronic pain

So what can you do? Probably not quit your job, as the title of this article suggests.

Get a standing desk, or, better yet, a treadmill desk.
Stand and move when you can.
Take a walk at lunch.
If you live in a pedestrian-friendly area, try walking or biking to work.

What ideas do you have to avoid sitting too much when you have a desk job?

file-7885988

Check out the research here:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30763169

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0003687077900023

About the Author

Author photo
HealthWorks Plano Chiropractor | Plano, TX
I’ve always believed that there is no such thing as coincidences in life. Finding my passion for helping others through chiropractic care was no different. Each step in my life has brought me to where I am today; helping my community to become happier, healthier and live to their fullest potential!
Skip to content