Recent studies show that too much sitting contributes to a host of diseases, from obesity and diabetes to cancer and depression, and literally shortens your life. The results are in: the enemies are your chair and desk, and it’s killing your body.A recent conversation with Dr. Kelly Starrett, a San Francisco-based physical therapist, revealed four concepts to consider. His new book, “Deskbound: Standing Up to a Sitting World,” focuses on improving mobility for the office worker. A standing desk doesn’t fix the problem.A standing desk comes with its own unique health risks including, foot injuries, knee pain, varicose veins, and injuries to your neck and shoulders.Create movement rich environments.In an effort to be more efficient, our work stations minimize movement. Stop emailing the person down the hallwalk the message down. Move items around in your work area to force standing, bending, and reaching.Eliminate optional sitting.Whenever possible perform your work task while standing, walking, or intentionally alternating between the two positions. When making phone calls stand up and pace. You will have more energy in your voice and sound more engaged in the conversation. Have walking meetings in place of the death-by-PowerPoint type meetings.An hour at the gym won’t fix sitting all day.”The body is built to move correctly all the time,” said Starrett. “But our society doesn’t teach people the skills to move the way we were meant to move.” Our joints are meant to be taken through a full range of motion each day. Walking in a straight line on a treadmill isn’t going to get the job done. A good plan requires bending, reaching, squatting, rotation, and changes of direction.So get moving! You will feel better, have more energy, and get more done.Alton Skinner is a health and fitness expert with over two decades of experience training athletes and author of “The Golfer’s Stroke Saver Workout.”
