Sitting too much is a health hazard, as you might have heard already.
There’s even an actual medical condition tied to it that’s serious, despite its funny name: Dead Butt Syndrome.
It doesn’t mean your butt is actually dead, of course. And the technical term is “gluteal amnesia,” which means the muscles of your rear end have forgotten how to do their job. And make no mistake, the butt muscles are hugely important, helping to stabilize the pelvis, keep your body in alignment, and even stand and walk.
DBS can cause back pain, tight hips and balance issues. Bones in the spine can become compressed, and the butt muscles can stop activating after just 30 minutes of resting on them.
If you have to sit for prolonged periods, set an alarm so you’ll get up and walk around every hour or so.
Too much sitting speeds up the aging process. It’s bad for bone health. It lowers muscle mass and energy levels.
A study in Taiwan of 480,000 people found those who sit most of the day had a one-third higher chance of dying from cardiovascular disease than people with less sedentary jobs. And that’s just one example of the research.
Regular exercise is vital to keeping these muscles active and strong, particularly movements like squats and lunges. Call Fitting Fitness In today, and let’s keep your butt alive and well!
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.