We’re on a mission to educate the public about how dangerous sitting can be to your health – with prolonged inactivity up there with smoking as a leading cause of premature death.
And with so many people now working from an office, from home, or behind the wheel of a vehicle, we thought it important to not only start a discussion about the occupational hazards of prolonged sitting, but give you the tools to counteract it.
It’s an important discussion to have, because a sedentary lifestyle can raise your risk of depression, chronic pain, cancer, injuries, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, to name just a few
(to read more about this, read our handy blog here).
Come join us, as we Take A Stand Against Sitting
It’s why we at Agility Rehabilitation have launched our Take a Stand Against Sitting corporate seminars – where one of our expert Exercise Physiologists visits your workplace to give staff the knowledge and tools to counteract the harmful effects of prolonged sitting (see details below).
As per World Health Organisation guidelines, you need 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity, to counteract sedentary behaviour. But sadly, many people today have fallen into the daily trap of moving from their bed in the morning, to their vehicle, their workplace and then home again to the television or computer, without doing anything to maintain their cardiovascular health in between.
Agility Rehabilitation Director/Exercise Physiologist Jonny Christie works with people like this every day, as he attempts to rehabilitate their injuries and chronic health conditions brought about by prolonged sitting/sedentary behaviour.
He encourages workers to get proactive for their long-term health and focus on two themes: adapting/changing their posture where possible; and grabbing any opportunity to increase their heart rate/breathing.
How to counteract prolonged sitting at work
With a bit of creativity, planning and imagination, you can maximise your opportunity to get moving at work, according to Jonny. He says this may be as simple as:
- Squeezing in some squats while waiting for the kettle to boil
- Always taking the stairs instead of the lift
- Marching on the spot whenever you have to use the phone
- Taking regular mini-breaks for movement. Set a timer if necessary. Then, from a standing position, touch the floor and then reach for the sky. Repeat 10 times or more.
- Using a stand-up desk
- Riding a bike to and from work, or getting off public transport one stop earlier so you have to walk.
- Going for a brisk walk during your lunch break.
Before you know it, these new habits will start to work towards your daily activity tally – putting a glow back in your cheeks and a sparkle in your eye.
Throw in some regular gym sessions and/or your favourite sporting activity, and you’ll be back on the path to good health into your older years in no time at all.
Book your Take A Stand Against Sitting seminar today
To book one of our highly educational Take A Stand Against Sitting corporate seminars – which are just $120 for the month of February for groups of up to 20 people – please call our expert team at Agility Rehabilitation on (08) 6162 8145 today.