A Body in Motion Stays in Motion
Apparently, Newton’s First Law of Motion applies to the human body, as well. There’s a lot of buzz these days, both in the popular press and in the medical journals, about the importance of keeping active. And we’re not just talking about vigorous exercise. There is more and more evidence that even minimal activity, like walking, standing and even fidgeting is good for your health. Yes, that’s right…fidgeting. A study of British women by Hagger-Johnson, Gow, Burley, Greenwood and Cade reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine this month concluded that, ‘Fidgeting may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality associated with excessive sitting time’.
Reduce Sedentary Time
Perhaps you’ve heard about standing desks or maybe you even know someone at work who has one. How about treadmill desks? The latest research suggests that almost anything which decreases the amount of ‘sedentary time’ you have each day is beneficial to your health. Simple activities like getting up from your desk at regular intervals, standing while talking on the phone and using the stairs rather than the elevator can help. Simply stated, don’t be a couch potato! To get the most benefit from these habits, they should begin early in life and continue at a level consistent with your age and health throughout your lifetime. That’s why it is so important for all of us to advocate for regular recess activities for school age children and daily physical education at all levels through high school.
The Bottom Line
So, let there be more standing and less sitting, more fidgeting and less medicating active children, more walking, hiking, dancing, gardening and whatever else interests you, and, hopefully, less cardiovascular disease as a result.