TV Junkies

It’s no surprise that we are a Netflix Nation, slumped in front of our screens day after day as Netflix asks us “are you still watching”?  We’ve become a nation addicted to our screens, our phones, our tablets, our TVs, and this in turn means that many of us are living a sedentary lifestyle and even less shockingly so, that this is what is killing us.

We all know that not exercising or moving our bodies is dangerous for our health, yet still we sit for hours at a time, at work and at home.  It’s not the act of sitting that is killing us per say, it’s the lack of movement and the dire amount of exercise we do.

According to Finder, in 2019 the average Brit is watching over 19 hours of TV a week (and this isn’t even including streaming services such as Netflix).  The effect this is having on our health is undoubtedly significant. Firstly, when you are sitting you are not using up as much energy as when you are standing or moving which could lead to problems such as weight gain or even obesity. It is suggested that “Sitting for long periods is thought to slow the metabolism, which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down body fat.”

At The Rehab Room, we see many patients with issues that have stemmed from lack of physical activity. One of the most common problems caused by sitting for long periods of time is joint stiffness.  The hip flexors and hamstring muscles become tight and this can cause pain. “Overly tight hip flexors and hamstrings affect gait and balance, making activities like walking harder and perhaps even setting you up for a fall. Plus, tight hip flexors and hamstrings may contribute to lower back pain and knee stiffness, scourges that many people suffer with every day.”

Another problem caused by sitting for too long is back pain and poor posture. Back pain is contributed to by poor posture which may also cause poor spine health such as compression in the discs in your spine, leading to premature degeneration, which can be very painful.”

Sitting with poor posture puts stress on the spinal discs, joints and muscles and not only causes back pain but can also damage your neck and shoulders. It is important to sit while supporting your back, keeping your weight equal and your shoulders relaxed. Here at The Rehab Room, our focus with these clients is to inspire them to take responsibility for their health and  posture through increased awareness and cognitive behavioural techniques, combined with specific rehabilitation exercises. We also run spinal and postural talks.

The overall time you spend sitting must be cut down. (So) even if you go to the gym after work, it won’t reverse the damage done by sitting at your desk for eight hours. When you take a movement break it doesn’t matter what you do, you can take a nice stroll down the hall…it is about just accruing enough activity across the day. This could be a simple as walking to a colleague’s desk or going to get a glass of water.

If you are interested please contact us on 07933295045 or email kerry.therehabroom@gmail.com