Sitting is a big part of daily life, whether you’re working at a desk, commuting, or relaxing at home. While it might feel harmless (and even comfortable), long periods of sitting can have serious effects on your health. Let’s explore what too much sitting does to your body, and how you can fight back.

How Sitting Affects Your Body

Poor Posture
Slouching while sitting puts pressure on your neck, spine, and lower back. Over time, this leads to pain, stiffness, and less mobility.

Muscle Weakness
When you sit too much, core, back, and leg muscles don’t get used. They weaken, making everyday movements harder.

Joint Stiffness
Staying in one position causes your hips, knees, and lower back to tighten, reducing flexibility and ease of movement.

Common Muscle Imbalances from Sitting

Compressed Lungs & Heart

Slouching compresses your chest, limiting lung expansion and affecting heart function.

Less oxygen = fatigue and low energy
Heart strain = long-term cardiovascular risk

Tight Hip Flexors & Weak Core

Sitting shortens your hip flexors and relaxes your core muscles.

Tight hips = low back pain and limited movement
Weak abs = poor posture and spinal strain

Weak Glutes

Your glutes shut off when you sit too long, leading to:

Back and hip pain
Poor posture
Reduced athletic performance

Weak Deep Neck Flexors

Poor sitting posture weakens the muscles that align your head with your spine.

Forward head posture
Neck tension and headaches
Limited neck movement

Tight Chest Muscles

Sitting with rounded shoulders tightens the chest and weakens your upper back.

Slouched appearance
Upper back pain
Shallow breathing

Tight Upper Traps & Weak Lower Traps

Hunched shoulders overactivate the upper traps and weaken the lower ones.

Neck and shoulder pain
Poor shoulder mobility
Imbalanced posture

Why It Matters Long-Term

Without intervention, these imbalances can lead to:

Chronic pain in the back, neck, and hips
Reduced flexibility and mobility
Higher risk of injury
Permanent postural changes

Fix Your Workspace: Ergonomic Setup Tips

Keyboard & Desk

Elbows at 90° when typing
Wrists straight, not bent
Try a split keyboard for better alignment

Chair & Monitor

Use a chair with lumbar support
Feet flat on the floor, knees at 90°
Monitor at eye level, about an arm’s length away

How to Offset the Effects of Sitting

Take breaks: Stand up and walk around every 30–60 minutes
Stretch: Focus on hips, chest, back, and shoulders
Strengthen: Work your core and glutes regularly
Move more: Walk, stretch, or do a short workout daily

Stand Up to Sitting

Sitting is hard to avoid, but its impact doesn’t have to be. With smart posture, regular movement, and a proper workspace, you can reduce the risks and feel better throughout the day.

Need help staying active or improving posture? Our team is here to support your health goals, just reach out!

📍 710 Dorval Dr Unit 520, Oakville, ON
📞 (289) 835-2949
💻 https://www.elevaterehabilitation.com/

The Hidden Dangers of Sitting: What Long Periods of Inactivity Do to Your Body