The Dangers of Too Much Sitting

While too much sitting isn’t good for anyone, no matter the age group, spending long amounts of time seated is especially critically dangerous for the elderly. With age comes muscles that degrade much faster than those of young people, which means that extra attention needs to be paid to the amount of time in chairs, both by the elderly and their caregivers and loved ones.

Studies have shown time and time again that a lack of exercise in the elderly leads to decreases in their power of the muscles of the legs. Such power is vital for essential everyday activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of bed, in and out of the shower, and up and out of chairs and the toilet. Losing muscle strength in the legs is one of the most common ways that seniors lose their independence, suffer falls, or experience isolation.

When the elderly live sedentary lifestyles, there is a tendency for muscle mass, functionally capacity, and metabolic health to decline. This causes the elderly to experience changes in how the nervous system controls muscle contraction.

With extended time sitting, not only is muscle mass lost, but bone density as well. Injuries from falls are the most common cause of preventable hospitalizations in the elderly, and fractures suffered in falls are very serious, often requiring long recovery periods that further degrade muscle mass and result in losses of mobility and independence. It is crucial that seniors get regular periods of low intensity exercise incorporated into their daily routines, to keep muscles strong and active.