News
Evolution... we're doomed
04 October, 2010
Evolution... we're doomed - Mitchell Phillips. Performance Analyst, StrideUK.
The irony of it is that whilst technology is allowing mankind to progress further than ever before, it's actually sending us back to caveman times. Allow me to explain, it's safe to say that everything we expose ourselves to on a day to day basis could seriously have detrimental impact to our posture for life. Have you ever considered that as high as 80% of us work in a job where we spend most our working hours sitting down... Luxury, or is it?
Sitting down for long periods of time will weaken your core muscles, will tighten your hip flexors (front pelvis muscles) and cause your glutes to become tight, redundant and restricted. Looking further up the body, most 'seated' jobs will also require your shoulders and arms to either operate a computer or drive a car. Enduring this position from 9 - 5 can cause your shoulders to become rounded, neck will protrude forward, upper back tight and painful trying to stabilise your head from falling off! in summary, we are becoming a race that stand with a deep arch in our lower back, tummy sticking out, (hip flexors) feet rotated out (glutes) shoulders rounded (short / tight chest) knuckles facing forward (direct impact to round shoulders) neck sticking out. Yes, its official... we're going primate!!
So what can we do about it?
Firstly, rule of thumb, what ever function you do on a day to day basis.... do exactly the opposite as a training program. If you go to a gym, don't be seduced by using one of the fixed 'resistance' machines that offer a nice comfortable seated solution whilst you undertake a shoulders workout... stand up.
Think twice before using any equipment that involves you sitting down, and that includes rowing machines and exercise bikes. Good strong core, flexible hip flexors and glutes are the biggest foundation for injury free running, weakness in these areas will make you vulnerable and susceptible to injuries occurring.
As to the upper back, rule of thumb, pull don't press! Stay of the bench press or press ups, your chest is tight and restricted enough as a result of hugging the computer or steering wheel all day long, stretching the chest out as frequently as possible would be the far more logical thing to do. Take on more exercises that pull your shoulders back, (reverse flyes. lat pull downs) ask any qualified fitness trainer if you're short of a few ideas.
To be more accurate, going primate would actually be a luxury in comparison to what we are actually doing to our selves. Back in BC, man was up and about doing things. We've overshot Neanderthal, we're heading back to foetal position!!