Posted on April 22, 2015 by Kate Halsall

Yes, you read it right. To quote the British Chiropractic Association, on the average day we spend: 1.8 hours sitting looking at mobile technology; 3.7 hours sitting looking at a laptop or a desktop computer; 1.4 hours sitting whilst gaming (for those under 30s that is) or driving; 2.8 hours sitting watching TV / films – that’s 10 hours a day of sitting! Now do the maths. If you get up at 6am and go to bed at 11pm, you spend over TWO THIRDS OF YOUR DAY SAT DOWN! It’s not surprising that sufferers of neck and back pain has gone up 10% compared to last year! So how does 10 hours a day of sitting affect our posture?

I was so shocked by this that I couldn’t stop talking to a number of clients about it – and here’s something thst I found out from one of them: some of the wearable fitness technology out there actually contains an “inactivity alert” which reminds you to move! I imagine that would be annoying if you were sleeping, but awesome if you get stuck into that work and forget to take a break. Yet, whilst not to take anything away from thinking that technology is amazing, I can’t help but wonder what a sad state of affairs it is that we need to wear something to remind us to move.

So here’s the deal peeps. If you don’t or have never suffered with back pain, you’re one of the lucky few. 4 out of 5 people with suffer at some stage in their life with back pain. Once you have suffered with it, you will suffer with it again – sorry but it’s the harsh reality. So if you don’t already get back or neck pain, you need to do something about it now!! GET UP FROM WHEREVER YOU’RE READING THIS AND MOVE! If you have or already do suffer, it’s not too late. There are mobilisations, stretches and exercise programmes available to you to help – you just need to speak to the right people.

Regardless of whether your do or don’t suffer with this pain, if you spend 10 hours a day sitting, you need to take preventative measures now – it’s never too late. Take more breaks, move more, get your posture checked, do some core strengthening exercises and so on. The Motive8 team have expertise in this field and offer postural assessments so please do speak with someone if you have any concerns – but honestly, anyone who sits for 10 hours a day should have concerns!

For More Information:
http://www.m8north.co.uk/postural-assessment/
http://www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk/sitting-comfortably-your-back-isnt-267-news.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/32285064/back-pain-in-young-people-rising-say-experts