If you are like most people, you have been home a lot, sitting in front of your computer or television, trying to maintain your career or your sanity. Between quarantining and social distancing, the home you loved has become your confinement.
Many of our patients come in saying Covid is a pain, but in actuality, it is giving people pain who have not had the virus.
The world is off their routine since Mid-March when realization hit that we are all in danger of a new life-threatening illness. Gone are the hours we spent at the gym, stretching, toning, and socializing. Gone is our attempt at a healthy diet, comfort food has ruled for 10 months.
Welcome to sedentary living.
A sedentary lifestyle is one in which you are relaxing more than you are being active. As a very productive employee in an office, you could take a stroll to the bathroom, chit chat, at the water cooler, or go out for lunch. That has been replaced with sitting at your desk at home with your drink in front of you and very little time to roam, stretch, or be you.
Even active adults that enjoyed golf, tennis and the pool are parked in front of the television in an attempt to avoid exposure to disease. Newsflash, unwinding can be hazardous to your health.
Inactivity can actually trigger a variety of health concerns, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and diabetes. It can also lead to inevitable weight gain and weakened muscles and joints. In your weakened condition, you are more at risk for stiffness, injury and even falls. You may also experience decreased mobility in your limbs and feel a bit rusty.
You stand up at your desk to do something and your hips are stiff and painful. Your knees are noisy and sore. Part is the extra poundage you have accumulated, but part is not using the joints and muscles as you did pre-lockdown. Disuse of muscles leads to atrophy.
Disuse also has cardiovascular effects. Your oxygen uptake is decreased, your systolic blood pressure can rise, and your heart can weaken.
And it is not your imagination, your mental processing is really slower than it used to be, your memory and concentration is poor, and many people are anxious and depressed. There is actually a name for this…Disuse Syndrome aka Use It or Lose It.
So, what can you do? USE IT!
Make an effort to stretch when ever you can, even if it is sitting at your desk. Try some neck stretches and leg lifts, a little ankle rolling and side twists. When you get up to use the bathroom or make some lunch, do some toe touching and ceiling reaches. Turn on some upbeat music and sing and dance around the house. Music is a tonic on its own and a real mood lifter.
Bundle up and walk, or mask up and walk with a partner. Visit nature, get out and breathe the fresh air. Just keep moving to the best of your ability.
here are dietary supplements you can try to minimize pain and damage such as glucosamine, chondroitin and turmeric. Watch your salt intake and check out anti-inflammatory diets.
Let’s hope you escape Covid19 successfully, make sure you are no worse for wear when life resumes as we all hope.
If you are experiencing health issues, Dr. David Lopez has convenient offices. Awarded NJ Top Doc for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2014, his extensive training allows him to access your needs and your medical needs to find the best solution for you and your lifestyle.
Little Silver
200 White Road, Suite 101
Little Silver, NJ 07739
Phone (732) 888-2100
Fax (732) 888-2188
