Couch and feet on the table: why is it so bad for us?

by time news

You may have heard it before: sitting is the new smoking. An active lifestyle helps to combat physical complaints. But not just sitting, sitting on the couch can also be disastrous for our health. We go into this in more detail.

couch

We probably all recognize the feeling. After a long day, nothing is more tempting than flopping down on the couch, preferably in a horizontal position. Although there is still little scientific research into the phenomenon of sitting on the couch, it is already clear that it is not good for your muscles. “If your leg is in a cast, it becomes thinner as the muscles disappear. Of course, that also happens if you don’t move much. And lounging on the couch is the worst example of this,” says doctor Ted van Essen.

Risk of back and neck complaints

Lying on the couch for a while can be very relaxing. But if you sit on the couch for too long, it has the opposite effect. Then that costs energy and you feel more listless. In addition, you run the risk of getting too few hours of sleep if you stay in front of the television until late at night. Doctor Ted also warns against back and neck complaints. “Everyone feels something in the back from time to time, but some get chronic complaints and that reduces the quality of life. And if you’re hanging around and peering at your phone or tablet, your neck is bent too much. In the long run, that causes pain and restriction of movement.”

Also read: Immediately after dinner, stretch out on the couch: is that really a good idea?

Active sitting position instead of sitting on the couch

With an active sitting position – that is, sitting upright – you can prevent many complaints. Doctor Ted takes the chair from Time For MAXpresenter Sybrand Niessen as an example. “He sits on a wobbly chair with no backrest. It promotes muscle use and thus prevents back pain.” But isn’t sitting the new smoking? That’s right, that’s why Dr. Ted recommends that you continue to exercise regularly. “Brisk walking, half an hour a day, is enough.”

Feet off the table

Sit upright instead of sitting on the couch. But can you put your feet on the table to relax? It is better not to do that too often. You rest your weight on your heels and heels, which puts more of your knees, calves and hamstrings. And you won’t last very long. It is wiser to use a separate footstool if your chair or armchair does not have a built-in bench to rest your feet on. It is important that you support your legs, rather than your heels.

legs

Also read: Crossing your legs, how much harm can that be?

(Source: Van Wijk Zitspecialist, MAM Coaching, Doctor Ted. Photo: Shutterstock)

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