Maintaining good health while working is sometimes difficult. With long meetings scheduled almost every day, it can be hard to move our bodies as much as we need to stay healthy. Studies show that the majority of us spend around 8-10 hours per day sitting. This means we don’t get much physical movement and have an increased risk of weight gain and diabetes. But did you know that fidgeting is a great way to combat these issues?
Fidgeting: A Good Move For Your Health
When in meetings or even at home while you’re watching the news, it is important to keep your body moving–even just a tiny amount. Sitting for hours at a time causes blood flow to the legs to decrease, which results in hardening and narrowing of the arteries. As the blood moves through the stiff veins it causes the pressure to increase.
Luckily, there are ways to prevent this. Moving around every so often allows the muscles in the legs to contract while also ensuring a steady flow of blood. Lower body fidgeting will generate enough activity in the muscles to maintain blood flow.
Gretchen Reynolds, a writer for the New York Times analyzes Dr. Juame Padilla’s study on fidgeting in her article “Why Fidgeting is Good Medicine.” Dr. Padilla set out to discover if fidgeting could help elevate blood flow through the legs while sitting.
The Setup
Dr. Padilla selected 11 healthy students at the university. Each one was tested for baseline blood flow readings through their leg’s main artery. With this information, they were able to determine how the artery responded to blood pressure changes.
Each student sat at a desk for three hours. One leg had to remain completely still during the whole period of time. The other leg was able to tap for one out of every five minutes. None of the students were allowed to stand up for this period of time.
The Findings
- Blood flow in the still leg decreased while blood flow in the moving leg increased.
- The still leg fell below the baseline reading at the end of the three hours.
- The moving leg responded well, if not better, in some cases.
- Long periods of stillness over time can impact you permanently.
Next time you find yourself having to sit for hours at a time, make sure to keep your legs moving!
Image credit: Getty Images via NYTimes.com
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Health to WELLNESS & SELF-CARE on 09/11/2023.
