Prolonged Seating: How Does This Negatively Affect Your Posture?

Sitting down after being on your feet for a long time could come as a relief. The result is a break from standing and giving your legs, feet, and hips a “rest.” But while sitting down for short periods of time might seem great, prolonged sitting could have a few negative effects.

Prolonged sitting from a chiropractor’s view

As chiropractors, we often see patients complaining about back pain and various other aches which is linked to prolonged sitting. We’ve found that this has increased during the covid-19 pandemic. This is as a result of more people being at home during this time.

It doesn’t only affect office workers.

You might think that having an office job or something in administration and sitting in front of a computer at a desk all day is the only reason for pain. This isn’t true.

Even binge watching your favourite TV shows for hours on end would result in being seated in one position for a long time. This is what leads to many concerns and some we will mention in this post.

What problems could prolonged sitting cause?

There are many issues to be aware of if sitting for long hours at a time. This might be something many people have become accustomed to during this time. A chiropractor can help you get onto a treatment program to help manage the pain and correct certain issues.

Bad posture

Poor posture is one of the leading effects of sitting for a long time. When sitting, the neck tends to bend to accommodate the keyboard and looking at a screen. Depending on the ergonomics of your desk and chair setup, you may be putting strain on your neck, upper, and lower back.

Poor blood circulation

If our bodies don’t move, we’re not allowing the blood to circulate as freely as it should. This is why in some cases one could experience muscle cramps and even pins and needles in certain sections of the body during sitting.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are visible and appear large. These mostly occur on the lower legs as the blood pools inside the veins while sitting in one position.
DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
Essentially, DVT is a blood clot inside a vein. Sometimes the blood clot travels and potentially makes its way to the lungs, leading to an embolism and could be fatal if not treated in time.

Weight gain

Weight gain is one of the leading factors connected to sitting for long hours every day. This is because the body isn’t getting enough time to burn calories. Oftentimes people tend to eat at their desks and this is also a bad habit that could increase your chances of unwanted weight gain.

Fatigue

If you’re feeling exhausted everyday despite getting sleep at night, this could be as a result of sitting for too long. When exercising and getting the heart rate up, the body releases endorphins. Endorphins help to energise the body. It is often the reason why a workout can feel so satisfying and revitalising.

What else can prolonged sitting lead to?

Some studies confirmed that sitting for long periods of time can also lead to musculoskeletal problems (legs, shoulders, knees, wrists, elbows, thighs, and the lumbar spine to name a few)
Long hours of sitting may also be linked to:

• Hypertension
• Depression
• Digestive disorders
• Thyroid disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Migraines

How to improve your lifestyle if you’re required to be seated for a long time?

Get moving during your breaks
It’s important to take a break from your sitting position to move about. You can go for a brisk walk, take a quick run on the treadmill, or do a couple of stretches. If you keep your body moving you also better your chances of maintaining weight loss.

Get your back adjusted by your chiropractor
Chiropractic adjustments are often beneficial at helping to manage chronic pain without over the counter medication. It may also help to correct bad posture and as a result reduce the pain related.