Take Charge Now

    Sitting is the New smoking!   You have heard me talk about a ten minute walk that helps improve your health and fitness. But that isn’t the half of it. A ten minute walk is only the start, even if you do it every day. A study of 4,000 women showed the risk of developing diabetes went up 57 % from sitting for an eight hour workday. Sitting slows the circulation, using less sugar and decreasing fat burning which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.  Sitting for long periods of time is even proving to increase your risk of getting cancer.  If you sit too long, even small amounts of exercise does little to help. 
    A more recent study showed any amount of exercise helps cut the risk of dying of heart disease by 40 %, as long as you don’t sit eight hours straight.
    The bottom line is…don’t sit all day. Put your desk in a higher standing position 10 minutes before lunch, take a two minute stretch break every hour and stand on an air-spring mat that feels lively underfoot. Movement generates blood flow and increases oxygen delivery to the muscles and brain.
    Standing at your desk burns 33% more calories and reduces body fat by an average of 5%.  And that oxygen to the brain—makes you feel better, focus better and think more clearly.  All this translates into boosting productivity.
    Our bodies are built to move.  You don’t have to exercise strenuously to get all the health benefits but do something and especially don’t sit all day.
As you have read in the past— Take charge now. Improve your human experience. Get up out of your chair and … Take your ten minute walk right now and take someone with you.  And don’t forget to call your Physical Therapist  …You’ll be glad you did
Tom Coplin PT
Central Physical Therapy