Move it or lose it: How prolonged sitting impacts your backside
Fitness experts say we need to move our bodies as often as possible to avoid losing muscle strength but one University of Guelph professor believes it’s especially true for anyone who works at a desk all day.
"If you're sitting for long periods of time, you're not being as physically active as you would be," Steve Brown, an associate professor in the department of Human Health & Nutritional Sciences, said.
So what kind of impact can this have on your rear-end?
Brown said a lack of movement could cause those muscles to change.
“You're just simply not using those big hip extensor muscles as much in a new job where you're sitting for long periods of time, then certainly those muscles, in theory, could get smaller and change the shape of your butt,” Brown explained.
He said switching to a standing desk can help engage those muscles throughout the day, adding that people who do have to sit shouldn’t be afraid to change their position.
“There is no perfect posture to sit. So dynamic sitting is certainly better than static sitting.”
Brown’s number one tip is stepping away from the desk.
“Frequent breaks would mean getting up and moving, doing something different than sitting,” he explained.
“I like to recommend setting a timer,” said Sean Meagher, a registered physiotherapist and clinic manager at Depth Training and Physiotherapy. “Then, whether it's every hour or between meetings, just getting up and moving around.”
Meagher added that if you haven’t done much movement during the day, clenching your buttocks can help get the blood flowing. However doing it for too long can actually have a negative impact.
“If we walk around with our biceps flexed all day is not going to feel very nice either. So the more that we can move and put our body in different positions, the overall happier our joints are going to be,” Meagher explained.
There are more ways to strengthen the muscles beyond your workday.
At Move Strong KW in Kitchener, coaches focus on helping clients improve their strength and mobility. Owner Davor Cvijic said your glutes help with abductor and hip extension. Moving the hip back and out, plus adding weight for strength training resistance can help.
Davor Cvijic leads a class at Move Strong KW in Kitchener, Ont. on April 10, 2024. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener)
“Anything that works that hip extension or archetype,” urges Cvijic. “So step-ups and lunges and squats, anything in that direction will help.”
Cvijic said Move Strong KW focuses on staying active and not on physical attributes – like the shape of one’s posterior.
“It’s a nice side effect that people like as a result of restoring movement and proper function at the hip,” Cvijic added. “Plus, it's important because no one's ever written a rap song about having a small butt.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.