Slak Chiropractic Group
Sitting is Bad for Your Health Say Australian Chiropractors
Above is the headline of an article that appeared on the Australian health website "nzDoctor.co.nz" on May 9, 2012. The article is a release by the Australian Chiropractic Association that warns against sitting for long lengths of time.
The article notes that, "Increased computer use at work and home means that over half of your day is spent sitting and that our sitting habits can have significant impact on our overall health." With this in mind, the New Zealand Chiropractors' Association (NZCA) has joined forces with the Chiropractors Association of Australia (CAA) to promote the "Sit Right" campaign for the month of May.
"We know that the body will adapt to cater to what you do most often, so as your body adapts to constant sitting it makes you less skilled at basic functions like standing, walking, running and jumping," stated Dr. Hayden Thomas, chiropractor and spokesperson for the New Zealand Chiropractors Association. Dr. Hayden continues, "Sitting all day can result in muscle stiffness, poor balance and mobility, as well as pain in your lower back, neck and hip. Research has shown that excessive sitting can be lethal. The aim of this campaign initiated by our colleagues in Australia is to highlight the problems associated with bad posture. Many people don't realize that when you sit for extended periods in the wrong position this posture can stay with you even when you stand or walk around"
To help people participate with this campaign, the Chiropractors' Association of Australia has developed a Sit Right Widget as a simple tool to prompt computer users to take a break if they have been sitting on the computer for a while. The widget, when installed on a computer, reminds the user to get up and take a break at regular intervals. The default setting is to prompt for a break every hour, although users can change these settings to 20 or 40 minute intervals.
The Sit Right widget is available online at:
http://whatsyourposture.com.au/sit-right/about-the-sit-right-widget/.
