The image of a physiotherapist’s patient — someone battling aches and pains from physically demanding labor — is slowly fading. Rome-based physiotherapist Giulia Rocchi is witnessing a shift in her practice. While strenuous work once dominated her patient intake, a new, often overlooked culprit is emerging: the sedentary lifestyle.
This worrisome trend is reflected in official statistics. A 2022 Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) report revealed that a staggering 36.3% of Italians lead sedentary lives. This number is particularly alarming among younger generations, with two in ten individuals aged 24 or younger classified as sedentary.
Old-fashioned backbreaking work may have once been the primary cause of physical pain, but the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle manifest in different ways. “If you spend a lot of time still,” Rocchi explains, “the pain you feel is different because it’s caused by a sedentary lifestyle and poor muscle activation.” This can lead to a range of musculoskeletal issues, from persistent neck and back pain to spinal disorders.
But the impact extends far beyond physical discomfort. “At a structural level,” Rocchi observes, “I see the spread of many musculoskeletal pathologies like cervical pain, lumbago, and spinal disorders. But I also see systemic pathologies like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases. Even oncological diseases are aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle.”
The good news is that this silent threat can be addressed. “A few minutes a day of physical activity are enough,” Rocchi advises, “as long as it’s an activity you enjoy and that makes you feel good. And, above all, you don’t feel like it’s an obligation.”
The key, she believes, is to reframe our relationship with movement. It doesn’t have to be a grueling workout. It can be a brisk walk, a dance class, or even gardening. The crucial thing is to find something that brings you joy and fits seamlessly into your daily routine.
Breaking up prolonged screen time is key. Rocchi recommends incorporating short bursts of activity throughout the day: “We should also break up the hours we spend in front of the computer, alternating some small exercises to do at home, so as to keep us active.” She recommends aiming for at least a couple of hours of dedicated physical activity each week.
Fortunately, some cities are designed to make staying active easier. Rimini, with its flat terrain and commitment to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, offers an ideal environment for incorporating movement into daily life. “The area of Rimini, being flat, lends itself well to leading an active lifestyle,” explains Rocchi.”It is indeed not a very large city and the investments that have been made, especially in terms of cycle and pedestrian connections, are a valid help, in addition to the incentives for those who buy bicycles.”
For those who are struggling with pain, often a result of a sedentary lifestyle, physiotherapy offers a path to relief and recovery.Rocchi explains the process: “First, an anamnesis is carried out, that is, a general check through which the physiotherapist gets a picture of the person’s situation. Various evaluation tests are then carried out to see if the patient’s body confirms what has been hypothesized. We then continue with the actual treatment, which can be carried out either with manual techniques or with exercises that the patient must carry out at home, in a sort of ‘self-treatment’.”
She emphasizes the importance of patient empowerment: “These are exercises that, personally, I often prescribe, because I believe that the patient should be self-reliant from the physiotherapist.” Rocchi encourages consistency in exercise, even if it’s just a little bit each day.
Looking ahead, Rocchi anticipates that future lifestyles will become even more demanding, perhaps leading to less time for self-care. “People who will lead an increasingly hectic lifestyle, and who will have less and less time for themselves,” she predicts. Rocchi stresses the importance of early intervention and prevention. “To reverse the trend,” she urges, “first of all, we should all start by setting ourselves realistic objectives, which take into account our time availability.”