Office Work Can Be Deadly – ​​Here’s How Strength Training at Work Can Assist

Physical inactivity is deadly. When we become inactive, lose muscle strengthWhen we lack muscle strength, we can more probable experience a range of health problems, including cognitive decline, penniless mental health, musculoskeletal disorders, falls, grave injuries, be hospitalizedand get diabetes, heart diseasedementia, weakness, functional disability and even some forms of cancer.

The frailty caused by a sedentary lifestyle is an unbearable burden for caregivers and healthcare systems.

Inactivity has a terrible price. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the cost The cost of physical inactivity in public health systems between 2020 and 2030 will be around US$300 billion (around £232 billion). In 2022, the UK government stated that physical inactivity is associated with one in six deaths in the country.

Historically, people have become less lively when Grow up. But now, Younger peopleespecially those involved in sitting work such as office work, they become inactive, physically tender, more likely to take long-term ill leave and earlier retirement.

Read more: Children and teenagers not getting enough physical activity – up-to-date study issues health warning

sitting work these conditions can lead to mental fatigue, pain and discomfort, and can even be contributing factor down the highest level of all time With economic inactivity in the UK. Enormous employers – those with at least 1,000 employees – spend around 2 million pounds per year due to absence from work due to illness.

Strength training is one of the the most effective types of exercise for physical and mental health – and this is one of the two main recommendations listed in the WHO report physical activity guidelinesUnfortunately, strength training is also the physical activity that people do the least. stick.

For office workers, taking forced breaks – such as bodyweight squats performed at a desk – instantly augment blood flow, improve brain function, including mental alertness and concentration, and reduce feelings of fatigue.

However, in my experience as a clinical exercise physiologist, people tend to think that they are not juvenile, fit, energetic, or lively enough to start strength training. However, research has shown that the opposite is true. Starting strength training at any age and at any fitness level leads to increased energy levels and natural increases in physical activity.

Other barriers to starting strength training include lack of time, lack of specialized knowledge, and the uncomfortable spaces of a commercial gym. These barriers include: [exacerbated for women] who are more likely to have caring responsibilities, leaving little time focus on strength training for health.

If we know the importance of strength and strength training, and the barriers that prevent people from participating, why are we still failing to meet the global challenge of improving physical activity levels? Why is there a lack of successful programs in real-world settings?

My latest research found that people aged 40-60 knew the benefits of having muscle strength and participating in strength training, but lacked the practical knowledge to participate. They called for more support on where to find the details they need to feel confident enough to start strength training.

They now stay on Google and hope that the information they find is credible and evidence-based. Participants also felt that the workplace was a missed opportunity to offer support for strength training.

Maintaining a robust workforce

Do employees feel that simply handing out free gym memberships as part of an employee wellbeing package goes some way to overcoming the time (and childcare) barriers we face when trying to get to the gym after work and not knowing what to do once we get there?

Employers will need to do more if they are to avoid the consequences of sedentary working conditions. We cannot wait until people reach a health crisis before intervening. We need to provide proactive and practical support so that people can look after their health at work.

It makes sense that employers would want to provide their employees with the time and space to get in a strength-training session during the workday. This could look like hiring an exercise physiologist or strength trainer to come into the office, or even using technology to conduct strength sessions virtually and on-demand for employees working from home. Programs could even gamify participation to build camaraderie within and across departments or companies.

What’s more, building this robust habit is already possible will probably lead to more people who will continue this habit well into retirement – ​​making people stronger, more lively, independent and robust for longer.

Providing support with 30 minutes of strength training, twice a week, seems like a miniature sacrifice towards a healthier, happier, more productive and resilient workforce.

If you’re looking for the easiest way to improve your fitness levels, health, and office culture all at the same time, look no further. Implementing strength training into your workplace sounds like a pretty solid investment to me.