COVID has certainly shown us the importance of health as well as how quickly illness can change our lives. While COVID is front and center in most people's thoughts, it isn't the only illness out there that can be life-changing. Heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and cancer can all be devastating.
To become more resilient and defend against these things, research says you should move more. The dangers of being sedentary are well known and documented in the research. High amounts of sedentary time have even been called the new smoking. Unfortunately for many of us, sitting and being inactive are part of our jobs. However, research has shown that getting enough movement can counteract the negative effects of being sedentary.
A large study done in the U.K. found no association between the amount of time people spent sedentary and their chances of illness. But the authors didn't conclude that being sedentary is OK. Instead, they felt their findings were likely "attributable to a protective effect of the high volumes of daily walking." The study was conducted in London, where people tend to spend much more time walking or standing than average. The people in the study had daily walking times that were over double the average amount reported in the U.K.
While walking was the activity in this particular study, other research has shown that all kinds of movement can help protect your health. If you're looking to get those protective benefits for yourself, you could choose to walk, bike, lift weights, dance, or garden. If you're not moving as much or as well as you'd like, see your physical therapist. PTs are the most qualified professionals on the planet to help you move better, stay healthy, and enjoy life. From designing a program to get started to helping you move more all the way to helping you recover from an injury or serious illness, your PT is the right person to look to for help.