Don’t Catch the Sitting Disease When Staying at Home

Do you have the sitting disease? Experts coined this term to refer to an overly sedentary lifestyle. If you’ve been staying at home for a long period, you’re at risk of developing the sitting disease.

It is a known fact that having a sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. You are also more likely to develop osteoporosis compared to physically active people.

According to our spine surgeon in Boynton Beach, slouching on the chair, which is more likely to happen the longer you stay seated, can lead to unhealthy stretching of your spinal ligaments and straining of the spinal discs. This can speed up the wear and tear on the spinal discs and lead to spinal problems in the future.

In this uncertain time of a public health crisis, where most people are advised to stay at home or to work from home, here are three ways to avoid it.

1. Don’t spend more than two hours watching television or Netflix every day

A study from Nielsen revealed that the average American sits down to watch more than two hours of television every day. TV watching for long hours has been tied to weight gain and obesity, as well as increased risks for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, per the Harvard School of Public Health.

It can also lead to lower bone mass in children, which predisposes them to osteoporosis later in life. It’s vital, therefore, to cut your TV watching significantly if you want to reduce your risk of developing lifestyle diseases.

2. Have proper back support if you need to work from home

If you have to spend many hours working on your computer at home, you’ll need to arrange your workstation and your seat to lessen the physical stress on your body. You may not realize it but you could be slouching or straining your back from sitting for too long or sitting with the wrong posture. 

You’ll notice a lack of back support if you’ve been experiencing muscle fatigue and pain in the back after sitting too long. To remedy this, put a pillow or a rolled-up towel at the back of your chair for proper lumbar (lower back) support. 

Your feet must be flat on the floor and your knees lower than your hips when you’re sitting down. If your chair or your desk is slightly higher, then put a footrest underneath your feet.  

You should also adjust your work pattern by limiting prolonged computer use. If your sitting position is causing pain despite making adjustments, you can consult our orthopedic spine surgeon in Palm Beach County and spine surgeon in Boynton Beach to discover the root cause.

3. Make a point to move about regularly

To break your screen time, you should take short breaks and move about every 30 or 60 minutes. Do simple stretches or exercises for the back, shoulders, arms, and neck to improve your body’s circulation. 

Learn more about Dr. Hepler – orthopedic spine specialist

If you are experiencing back pain or discomfort, our orthopedic spine specialist is ready to help. Dr. Matthew Hepler is an adult and pediatric spine surgeon in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, and Delray Beach.

He treats all conditions of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, and also provides spinal stenosis treatments. Additionally, he offers non-operative treatment options, such as pain medications, steroid injections, and physical therapy. He also offers operative treatments, including both minimally invasive techniques and complex reconstructions.

If you would like to learn more about our orthopedic spine surgeon, please Contact Us.

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.