While most of us know that sitting for prolonged periods of time can be detrimental to our health, sometimes, despite our best intentions, we're locked into our seats by other circumstances. Perhaps you're on a long flight with lots of turbulence and, even though our activity tracker is buzzing us to stand up, the fasten seatbelt sign forces you to ignore the alerts. Or maybe you're at a daylong workshop or training and the opportunities to stretch your legs are few and far between. But recent research suggests that you may be able to counteract such periods of prolonged sitting with a short walk.
In the small study published in Experimental Physiology, researchers at the University of Missouri and University of Texas at Arlington compared the vascular function of a group of healthy men at the beginning of the project, after sitting for six hours and again once they completed a short walk. Results confirmed that when you sit for the majority of an eight-hour work day, blood flow to your legs is significantly reduced. The findings also showed "that just 10 minutes of walking after sitting for an extended time reversed the detrimental consequences," lead author Jaume Padilla, PhD, said in a release.
In addition to keeping your vascular system in good working order, walking can boost your creative inspiration. A past Stanford study showed a person's creative output increased by an average of 60 percent when he or she was walking.
Previously: Does TV watching, or prolonged sitting, contribute to child obesity rates?, More evidence that prolonged inactivity may shorten life span, increase risk of chronic disease, Study shows frequent breaks from sitting may improve heart health, weight loss and How sedentary behavior affects your health
Photo by Laura Billings
