A lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle are the biggest risk factors for problems with the spine, muscles, nerves and joints (the musculoskeletal system), and they are certainly also risk factors for more serious systemic diseases.
Sometimes I get unexplained pain in my legs and back. I try to move as much as possible, but I increasingly think it is because I sit for hours at work. What should I do?
Vanja (Sisak)Movement is a constant human need, but lately, because of the big changes in the way we live, long hours of sitting have become a way of life. Modern people sit practically all day: at breakfast, in the car on the way to work, at work, at the computer… even when relaxing in front of the television. It turns out that we spend one third of our lives sleeping and one third working, that is, sitting.
A lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle are the biggest risk factors for problems with the spine, muscles, nerves and joints (the musculoskeletal system), and they are certainly also risk factors for more serious systemic diseases (high blood pressure, diabetes, an increased risk of heart attack, deep vein thrombosis…).
That is why it is very important to pay attention to how we sit. At work, check that your desk is the right height for you, and choose a good chair to go with it that will help you sit correctly. Also pay attention to how comfortable your shoes are and to the floor beneath you. A rule you really should introduce into your working day is walking and loosening up.
Every hour you should get up at least twice, stretch a little and walk, even if only to the toilet. The Croatian Institute for Health Protection and Safety at Work, together with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), has published guidelines on setting up workplaces where people sit for long periods. You can also find them online.