Let's get moving after the rugby!

With research suggesting that a vast majority of adults spend more than 7 hours a day sitting down, at work or on transport, the future for our spine and our health is not too bright. Compound this with the fact that machines wash our clothes, our entertainment is based around a TV or computer screen and fewer of us perform manual work our prospects aren’t great! And, it gets worse with old age, with people aged over 65 spending 10 hours or more each day sitting or lying down, making them the most sedentary age group. It is little wonder therefore that research commissioned by the British Chiropractic Association has revealed that over 1 in 3 people in the UK are currently suffering from back pain.

This extensive research into the growing epidemic has revealed just how debilitating back pain can be.  A staggering 36% of sufferers have been in pain for more than 10 years and a further 12% for ‘as long as they can remember’. The pain can prevent individuals carrying out day-to-day activities that most of us take for granted: simple things like sleep, exercise or even lifting children becomes impossible. Alongside this, the charity Back Care estimates the healthcare costs of back pain total 1.6 billion. It’s also estimated that musculoskeletal problems, including back pain, cost businesses between £590 and £624 million a year.
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It appears that modern lifestyles have led to a lack of movement and perceived lack of time for regular exercise. If your 2020 plans involve ‘exercise’, it might be wise to start the ball rolling now with more movement and less sitting, think of it as oiling the joints before embarking on something more vigorous!