What's wrong with sitting?

Published: 26 May 2009 - 08:31 by rippa rit

Updated: 26 May 2009 - 08:31

Subscribers: Log in to subscribe to this post.

We all have heard that driving and sitting at a computer for long periods does not help our hamstrings, but it is more than that according to the Sports Performance experts.

"What’s wrong with sitting? Typically, Sean says, the sports therapist might expect to see:

tight hip flexors, hamstrings, calves
tightness through the external hip rotators, leading to restriction in hip joint range
limitation of lumbar spine extension
stiff thoracic spine
protracted and elevated scapulas with weak lower trapezius and serratus anterior
tight and weak posterior rotator cuff
poked chin posture with associated weak deep neck flexors and overactive upper trapezius, levator scapula and rhomboid muscles.

“Prolonged sitting has also been linked to acute muscle strains in dynamic sports, in particular hamstring strains,” Sean writes. “The lumbar spine stiffness associated with sitting leads to altered neural input into the posterior thigh, the theory goes. This can manifest as increased muscle tone of the hamstrings, which will alter the length-tension relationship and increase the risk of strain.”