4)    Mushy abs and tight hips – The posture of sitting causes muscles to weaken and limit their range of motion. In the elderly, that can increase the chances of a fall.

5)    Poor circulation – Blood flow throughout your body is minimized while sitting, and fluid can pool in the leg areas, causing varicose veins, swollen ankles and blood clots.

Get Well Prepped for Prevention

Of course, most people can’t avoid sitting in front of a screen for long periods each day. It may be that a person has an office-based job that requires sitting. Or someone may face a long commute to and from work, mandating that he or she sit in a car, train or other conveyance. An individual may have to input data into a computer, be on call for emergency phone messages, or otherwise tied to a seat.

That means chronic sitters face a choice: find time in the day to move about and counteract the effects of staying seated for long periods, or wait around for the inevitable.

Fortunately, raising awareness about the dangers of staying stationary encourages people to take the proper steps in preventing problems.  These are things that anyone can do without any expensive equipment or large breaks in the daily routine. They are designed to provide exercise and stimulation that can help gain the necessary balance in  life and stave off the dangerous side effects of sitting too long.