Study finds short bursts of exercise can help reduce the harm caused by sitting too much

A recent study found that simply sitting at a desk for hours at a time can have negative effects on mental health and cause stress. The longer you sit, the higher your stress levels will be, according to the US health website Healthline .

Performing occasional stretches can help relieve pain and tension from sitting for long hours at work.

However, doing just 15 minutes of exercise a day can help reduce the harmful effects of sitting too much, according to research by ASICS, an international mental health organisation in the UK.

Scientists analyzed data collected from about 26,000 people. They found that just sitting at a desk for two hours is enough to cause stress. After four hours of work, stress can increase by 18%.

However, research shows that doing just a few types of exercise can reverse this effect. During work hours, people can do some short exercises during breaks. When they are active, participants feel less stressed and perform better.

These exercises include squats, walking, spinal rotations, shoulder, arm and wrist rotations. Although they are simple exercises, they are really helpful for people who sit a lot. Research also shows that just 15 minutes of movement is enough to reduce stress levels by 15%, increase concentration by 28% and increase productivity by 33%.

Exercise can also help improve your physical health. It increases blood circulation, burns calories, and keeps your metabolism running. These effects can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and obesity.

In addition, exercise also helps stretch muscles, reducing muscle stiffness caused by sitting for a long time. If you want to reduce muscle pain caused by sitting for a long time, people should focus on exercises that help expand the chest muscles, rotate the spine, neck and shoulders. Experts also recommend that after about 30 minutes of continuous sitting at work, people should stand up, walk around, and stretch for at least 1-2 minutes, according to Healthline .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghien-cuu-phat-hien-cac-bai-tap-ngan-giup-giam-tac-hai-do-ngoi-nhieu-185241012170815782.htm