Beyond Inactivity: Assessing Psychosomatic Impacts of Prolonged Sitting and Poor Posture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29070/dxrr8950Keywords:
posture, lifestyle modifications, hormonal changes, sympathetic activation, reward circuitAbstract
This narrative review synthesizes multidisciplinary evidence on posture, sedentary lifestyle, and psychosomatic wellbeing in the digital age, with emphasis on brain alterations (hormonal disturbances, metabolic changes, musculoskeletal/postural effects, and sympathetic activation). Methods: targeted literature synthesis from (2000–2025). Results: evening blue‑light exposure suppresses melatonin and shifts circadian timing; chronic screen stress alters cortisol rhythms and dopaminergic reward circuits; prolonged sitting reduces insulin sensitivity and alters cerebral energy use; sustained non‑neutral postures increase nociceptive input and perpetuate stress–pain cycles; sympathetic dominance (reduced HRV, elevated BP) links digital overstimulation to anxiety and sleep disturbance. Recommendations: ergonomic redesign, scheduled activity breaks, evening light management, and stress‑management programs.
Downloads
References
1. Shechter A, Quispe KA, Mizhquiri Barbecho JS, Slater C, Falzon L. Interventions to reduce short wavelength (“blue”) light exposure at night and their effects on sleep: a systematic review and meta analysis. SLEEP Adv. 2020;1(1):zpaa002.
2. Cain SW, McGlashan EM, Vidafar P, Mustafovska J, Curran SPN, Wang X, et al. Evening home lighting adversely impacts the circadian system and sleep. Sci Rep. 2020;10:19110.
3. Chang AM, Aeschbach D, Duffy JF, Czeisler CA. Evening use of light emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next morning alertness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(4):1232–1237.
4. McEwen BS. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2006;8(4):367–381.
5. Thayer JF, Åhs F, Fredrikson M, Sollers JJ 3rd, Wager TD. A meta analysis of heart rate variability and neuroimaging studies: implications for heart brain connections. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012;36(2):747–756.
6. Biswas A, Oh PI, Faulkner GE, Bajaj RR, Silver MA, Mitchell MS, et al. Sedentary time and its association with risk for disease incidence, mortality, and hospitalization in adults: a systematic review and meta analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(2):123–132.
7. Dunstan DW, Howard B, Healy GN, Owen N. Too much sitting–a health hazard. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2012;97(3):368–376.
8. Lee H, Park J. Postural adaptations and musculoskeletal pain associated with prolonged computer use: a cross sectional study. Spine J. 2020;20(5):789–798.
9. Straker L, Mathiassen SE. Increased physical work loads in modern work–a necessity for better health? Ergonomics. 2009;52(10):1215–1225.
10. Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Fowler JS, Tomasi D. Addiction circuitry in the human brain. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2012;52:321–336.
11. Raichle ME. The brain’s default mode network. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2015;38:433–447.
12. Altena E, Baglioni C, Espie CA, Ellis J, Gavriloff D, Holzinger B, et al. Dealing with sleep problems during home confinement due to the COVID 19 outbreak: practical recommendations from a task force of the European CBT I Academy. J Sleep Res. 2020;29(4):e13052.