The pain relieving expert gives a hint: “Sitting is the new smoking!” Let’s take a closer look, Shall we?
On average people spend about 6.5 hours a day in a sitting position.In addition, there is also the problem of sleeping with bent legs. Everyone knows that! Basically a sitting position, in the side position. Understandable, right?
So over half a day (very cautious estimate) – in the sitting position. That makes sense too. Doesn’t it?
A recent analysis by researchers at the University of Regensburg (Germany) examined 43 different studies and came to the following conclusion: The longer people sit, the higher their risk of colon, lung and uterus cancer. Another group of researchers looked at the link between sitting and general life expectancy.
The result: Every hour spent sitting in front of the television during the day reduces life expectancy. This means that sitting is as unhealthy as other major chronic risk factors. Scientists are still looking for the exact causes. It seems that changes in the metabolism in the muscles play a role when they are not used. When we are physically inactive, our muscles produce smaller amounts of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) LPL is responsible for breaking down fatty acids from the blood and maintaining normal cholesterol levels.
Sitting for long periods also reduces sensitivity to the hormone insulin. This can increase the risk of diabetes, body fat gain and metabolic syndrome. Some people may have objection: I go to the gym, train at home or exercise regularly. That will help to balance things out! Well, it is not quite as simple as that 
Physical activity can partly reduce the health consequences of long periods of sitting, but it cannot completely compensate for them.
In fact, sitting may even cancel out some of the health benefits of activity. For example, one study observed that sitting for several days can cancel out many of the metabolic benefits of running for an hour.
Another study showed that sitting for six, eight, ten or more hours a day negatively affects health regardless of the level of activity the rest of the day. In this study (2006 – 2012), the researchers gave a fitness tracker to the 220,000 or so participants to measure physical activity.
The result: those who did a lot of exercise but still spent more than 11 hours a day sitting down had almost the same risk as people who did not move at all but only sat for four hours a day. What lessons can be drawn from all this?
Activity, ideally daily, for at least 30 – 60 minutes. And additionally a programme that relieves the body. Just for starting. 
Again and again I find that when I query the normal habits of everyday life of clients with pain, that a lot of sitting and many one-sided movement patterns are performed during the day.
What do I mean by this? Movements that are repeated over and over again are, in my opinion, one of the main reasons why pain occurs in the body. The body is totally shortened on one side, while the other side is permanently tensing against it. Even the strongest spring has to be relieved of pressure during continuous stress, over decades, in order to be able to continue its actual function.
I will gladly assist you with any questions you may have.
By the way, new appointments are possible again.
Until then, stay strong.
Matti
