Are you sitting at a desk right now? The body is simply not designed to sit in a chair for prolonged periods of time, and yet 82% of us spend the majority of our days seated at a desk staring at a screen. While more and more studies confirm the risks and negative effects of a sedentary life, sitting has become the new norm as we move from the computer chair, to a vehicle, to the couch. Inactivity is toll it's taking on our bodies such as:Â
Human bodies were designed for movement and varied physical activity, not for the static posture of sitting in a chair for extended periods. This sedentary behavior conflicts with your biological blueprint, which thrives on regular movement and a dynamic range of motion. When we sit for long hours, it disrupts the natural alignment and function of your skeletal structure, leading to imbalances in muscular strength and flexibility. This static position also compresses your internal organs, affecting circulation and digestion.
The general lack of physical activity reduces metabolic function, contributing to various health concerns like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Essentially, the human body is akin to a complex machine that requires regular, varied movement to maintain optimal health and functionality, a requirement starkly contrasted by the modern sedentary lifestyle dominated by prolonged sitting.
There is a condition that most people, and even doctors, are failing to identify, but if you suffer from:
Your muscles are the engine by which you move, impacting every aspect of your body whether you realize it or not. Unfortunately, muscles do not naturally maintain their healthy or ideal range of motion on their own. In fact, itâs just the opposite. Muscles will change their functional resting length to adapt to the length at which they are habitually used or positioned.
This is bad news for most of us.
Sitting can result in weak hamstrings and glutes, with tight quads and hip flexors. This combination causes a rounded-forward posture with a pelvic tilt. Unfortunately, even 30 minutes of exercise a day does not fix these muscle imbalances, and can make the problem worse. Not only will shortened muscles impact your posture, but they will eventually lead to pain and injury.
Prolonged sitting puts excess pressure on the spine, particularly the lower back. This unnatural position can cause adaptive muscle shortening which can cause: chronic back pain, weakened abdominal muscles, and tight hip flexors. The lack of movement also contributes to muscle atrophy and joint stiffness.
Sedentary behaviour, is associated with an increased risk of several chronic health conditions. These include obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even some forms of cancer. The lack of physical activity adversely affects metabolic health, leading to increased blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Sitting for long hours can impede blood circulation, particularly in the lower extremities, leading to swelling in the ankles, varicose veins, and increases the risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis). Poor circulation can also contribute to fatigue and decreased concentration, affecting overall productivity and mental well-being.
If any of these sound familiar to you, donât worry, because youâre not alone. Tight or shortened muscles affect nearly everyone. But before we get to the solution, we have to take a look at the root cause of the problem.
Each of us has our own pain points, whether it be tight shoulders and neck, hamstrings, quads, etc. However, what we may not realize is the root of these problems is all connected through one muscle–one you’ve probably never heard of, let alone trained or stretched.
The psoas (so-as) is the muscle that connects the lower body to the upper body.
It is one of two muscles that makes up the iliopsoas, and is the bridge between your upper and lower body. Almost every movement involves the psoas, making it not only one of the most important muscles in the body, but also the secret to unlocking your full potential.
When the psoas is healthy and functioning correctly it creates a neutral pelvic alignment, stabilizing the hips and supporting the lower back and abdomen. When it is unbalanced or tight, there are serious consequences in almost every part of your body, showing up as a pelvic tilt.
Sitting, whether it be at a desk job, driving, or on the couch, will eventually lead to a shortened and underdeveloped psoas muscle.
Diagnosing the root cause of symptoms can be tricky, and many health professionals struggle to pinpoint this muscle buried deep in your hips. Understand, that this is not your fault! However, now that you know, itâs up to you to do something about it. Thatâs where we come in.
Lengthening and strengthening the muscles, especially the psoas, needs to be done in the right order, with balance and intention. Concentrating on one muscle before the other can actually add to the problem, rather than improving it.
This is why so many people give up when they don't experience results within the first few days. The reality is, lengthening the muscles takes time, but our plan will have you feeling the difference within a couple weeks.
While many of the exercises may be ones you already know, doing the exercises in the right order and combining static with dynamic movements will make all the difference. Our goal is to help you unravel all the tissues including the muscle, fascia, connective tissue, and finally the joint itself.
Adaptive shortening is muscle tightness caused by a muscle being forced to remain in a shortened position for a prolonged period of time. Whether it be driving, sitting at a desk, or on the couch, the cumulative time spent in these positions have real consequences on our muscles and the skeletal system.Â
This shortening causes a reduced range of motion, a feeling of tightness in the muscles, and added stress on the connected tendons. However, most symptoms will not show up until the muscle has already shortened a significant amount. The results are postural distortion and the replacing of normal contractile elements with non-contractile tissue.
The earlier the intervention, the faster and better the results!
In every movement there are four main functions of the associated muscles:
Muscle Balance speaks primarily to the agonist and antagonist muscles in any given movement. It is important to have balance to prevent injury, which is why stretching is so important for everyone, not just athletes. When one muscle becomes tight, itâs antagonist will also be effected, and can even be injured as a result.
You see, our muscles are the engine through which our body moves. They control balance, our ability to sit, stand, twist, reach, bend, walk, and run. When our muscles become shortened, it causes problems in otherwise healthy people.Â
Most people donât realize that the cause of their problems is tight or shortened muscles. The impact tight muscles have on the whole body never occurs to us until we start to experience the symptoms. This can show up as a nagging injury, or in poor posture caused by upper and/or lower crossed syndrome.Â
Shortened muscles and the resulting limited range of motion in the joints affects nearly everybody, but few realize they impact every aspect of the whole body. Diagnosing adaptive shortening can be tricky. Chances are, you wonât discover the problem until it has already limited your range of motion. The good thing is that it CAN be reversed.
Knowing you have adaptive shortening in the muscles is one thing. Knowing how to take steps to reverse it is another challenge altogether.
We like to think that hitting up the gym for an hour before after work is enough to counteract sitting all day, but unfortunately emerging research suggests otherwise. Prolonged sitting creates a unique set of challenges that can't be fully reversed with short bursts of intense activity. It take a multi-faceted approach and targeting mobility, strength, and stability work to being to restore muscle balance and maintain joint and skeletal health despite having to sit. Life is busy, so for most of us the idea of piecing together a combination of activity, posture correction, and stability work is overwhelming - that's where we come in.Â
Our mobility program has been designed to make the most of your time, targeting problem areas in a specific sequence to attack muscles from a variety of angles. Muscles have to be unpacked and balanced in a particular way to have the desired result. We also work on strengthening stabilizing muscle to ensure there is a strong muscle base for your movements.Â
It is a combination of practices maintained over time that will help your muscles lengthen and sustain a healthy range of motion, especially as you age.
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Creating muscle balance needs to be done with balance and intention. Our sequential, dynamic method works to unravel all the tissues including the muscle, fascia, connective tissue, and finally the joint itself. Through a combination of dynamic movements that both strengthen and stretch, and static deep-tissue stretches, our program makes injury prevention easy.
The program includes daily mobility routines designed to correct muscle imbalances common to desk workers. These routines will also work to build stability and strength through gentle exercises. These videos are designed to be easy to follow, and track your progress over time.
Program Length:Â Ongoing Daily
Average Routine Duration:Â 10-12 Minutes
Goal:Â Correct muscle imbalances and strengthen supporting muscles. Designed to reverse the effects of prolonged sitting and is the core of our programming.Â
Program Length:Â Ongoing
Average Routine Duration:Â 5-6Â Minutes
Goal:Â Short routines you can do at your desk to break up your workday. These are simple to follow along with and will help boost your mood and productivity.Â
Download the ReverseSit mobile app to easily follow along with routines and track your progress on your mobile device or tablet.
âď¸Â Supported devices: iOS and Android
âď¸Â Download videos for offline viewing
âď¸Â Custom calendar feature - set up your own schedule and reminders
âď¸Â Star favourite classes so you can come back to them later
âď¸Â Filter video by length to easily find classes that fit into your schedule
âď¸Â Cast to your TV with one click
âď¸Â Search tool to quickly find what you're looking for
"After just two weeks of following ReverseSit's program, my back pain has significantly reduced! The videos are easy to follow and the instruction is perfect for me." â Emily R.
"I never realized how much my desk job affected my health until I started ReverseSit. I no longer wake up stiff and sore and I feel my energy levels going up. It's been a game changer." â Mark T.
"The exercises are easy to follow and really effective. My neck tension and headaches have almost entirely disappeared in the matter of a month." â Sarah K.
Welcome to ReverseSit, where elite athletic training meets the everyday needs of the desk-bound professional. Our team, composed of seasoned industry professionals, has a rich history of working with athletes who juggle high-performance sports and desk-bound careers. Through this unique lens, we've gained invaluable insights into managing and optimizing physical health amidst the demands of a sedentary lifestyle.
At ReverseSit, we're passionate about extending this expertise beyond the realm of athletes. We understand that everyone deserves to work and live at their best, regardless of their profession or fitness level. Our programs are meticulously crafted to address the specific challenges faced by individuals spending long hours at a desk. From targeted exercises for injury prevention and posture correction to strategies for maintaining peak mental and physical health, ReverseSit is dedicated to transforming the way you work and live. Join us on this journey to unlock a balanced, healthier life, where your job doesn't compromise your wellbeing.
Starting immediately after sign up you'll be given access to all programming in your membership area. You can access on any device like your phone, tablet or computer.
With the 7 day FREE trial you will have access to ALL ReverseSit content.Â
Even if you forget to cancel, or for some reason you don't enjoy the content and community, we'll refund your last months payment right away. Just send us a quick email and no worries. We're here for the long term and will respect your choice!Â
Even if you forget to cancel, or for some reason you don't enjoy the content and community, we'll refund your last months payment right away. Just send us a quick email and no worries. We're here for the long term and will respect your choice!
After your trial, membership is either $9.99/month or $85/year. No contracts or cancellation fees. Cancel during the trial and you'll never be charged.
PER YEAR
â Daily, easy to follow mobility videos
â 10-12 minutes in length
â 30% savings over monthly membership
 â Instant access to ALL programming
 â Lock in this low pricing for LIFE
â 7 Day FREE Trial
PER MONTH
â Daily, easy to follow mobility videos
â 10-12 minutes in length
 â Instant access to ALL programming
 â Lock in this low pricing for LIFE
â 7 Day FREE Trial