Chiropractic Care

Your sedentary lifestyle may be affecting your health more than you think. Prolonged sitting or inactivity can have wide-ranging negative impacts on the human body, including increased risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression.

A sedentary lifestyle refers to a routine with little to no exercise and excessive sitting or lying down. This may sound extreme, but even working at a desk for 8 hours a day falls into this category. On average, Canadian adults spend 9.6 hours a day being sedentary, and only about 50% meet national physical activity guidelines.

Current physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week, with the addition of strength training exercises at least twice a week. Moderate to vigorous-intensity exercise includes activities that make you sweat and breathe harder.

Engaging in at least 150 minutes of activity per week can reduce the risk of premature death, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and obesity.

Tips for Getting and Staying Active:

• Start gradually: ease into a routine to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Incorporate activity into daily life: walk to run errands, bike to work, get off the bus a stop or two early, or take the stairs at work or in your apartment.
• Choose activities you enjoy: doing something you like makes it feel less like a chore.
• Get friends and family involved: including loved ones in your routine can make it more fun and engaging.
• Join a group: scheduled workout clubs or fitness groups add accountability.
• Stick with it: after 2-3 months, being active will start to feel like a natural part of your routine.

Visit Your Chiropractor

If you’re experiencing discomfort from a sedentary lifestyle, your chiropractor can help you get back on track. Chiropractic care not only focuses on spinal health but also improves mobility and overall well-being, allowing you to stay active and healthy. By combining chiropractic care with regular physical activity, you can reduce the risk of long-term health problems associated with inactivity.

There are many resources to help you kickstart a healthier and more active lifestyle:

• ParticipACTION
• Heart and Stroke Foundation – Get Active
• American Heart Association – Easy Ways to Move More
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – Getting Active

Resources:

1. https://www.heartandstroke.ca/-/media/pdf-files/healthy-living/csep_guidelines_handbook.pdf?rev=-1
2. https://www.participaction.com/the-science/key-facts-and-stats/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7700832/