A surgeon has shared one of the worst things you can do for your joints every day. When people think about protecting their joints, they often assume the answer is extreme exercise, strict diets or expensive supplements.
But according to cartilage and joint preservation specialist Professor Paul Lee, one of the worst things many people are doing to their joints every day is sitting still for hours at a time. Modern office life, long commutes and working from home have dramatically changed how people move throughout the day.
Many now spend eight, 10 or even 12 hours largely stationary, often without realising the effect this can quietly have on their joints over time. Professor Lee said the issue is not about blaming people or calling them lazy – he believes that kind of messaging is completely unhelpful.
He added: “We should not make people feel guilty for modern working patterns. Humans were simply not designed to stay still for 10 hours a day. Modern office life may be starving our joints quietly. Not because people are lazy, but because the body evolved around regular low-level movement.”
Unlike muscles, cartilage behaves very differently biologically.
Professor Lee continued: “Cartilage has no direct blood supply; it feeds from joint fluid. If we sit still all day, that fluid circulation slows down.
“Cartilage behaves more like a sponge than a muscle. Movement helps compress and release the joint, allowing nutrients to circulate.”
This means joints rely heavily on regular and gentle movement to stay biologically active and healthy. Professor Lee stressed that this does not mean people suddenly need to become fitness fanatics.
He added: “You do not need to become a marathon runner. But your joints do need movement to stay biologically active.”
Continue reading by clicking the ( NEXT 》 ) button below!
