At PDG Health Services, we already knew that we Dutch are champions at sitting, but sitting puts enormous extra strain on the body. However, not everyone is aware of this! Sitting increases the pressure of our weight on the lumbar spine by 40%. This makes sitting heavier than standing!

Get more exercise

In the Netherlands, we spend more than nine hours sitting down during a (working) day: a few hours at the office, in the car, and then a few more hours at home. Because we sit so much, we increase the risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease and premature diabetes. In addition to sitting at a computer screen, this also increases the risk of neck, shoulder, and arm problems.

So it's no surprise that the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport is calling on sedentary Dutch people to exercise more every day, in an initiative known as theNational Exercise Minute. However, that one minute of exercise at 11 a.m. is nowhere near enough.

Microbreaks

By moving for at least one minute every half hour, you can reduce the risk of complaints. And let's be honest: an extra minute of exercise every half hour is something anyone can do!

You can do this by standing up to make a phone call, getting a drink, or visiting the restroom. We call these microbreaks. These microbreaks provide you with a natural form of movement throughout the day. However, how much you move does not say anything about how much you sit.

Sitting for long periods of time can lead to underuse, and from the age of 25 onwards, our physical capacity gradually declines. It is important that we maintain our physical capacity because this decline can be slowed down, but not reversed. When physical capacity is too low, the body has a limited ability to cope with setbacks or extra physical strain. This also increases the risk of complaints. Slowing down this decline in physical capacity can be achieved in a very simple way, namely by being aware of your own vitality and working on it.

Getting started

Would you like to raise awareness among your employees in a fun way?ContactPDG Health Services and we will be happy to discuss the possibilities.