论“久坐伤肉”之“坐”

Discussion on“sitting”in“long-sitting-caused injury to muscle”

既往多从“脾主肌肉”来理解《黄帝内经》中的“久坐伤肉”,实则应结合时代背景来分析。《黄帝内经》时代坐姿与现在不同,以跪坐为主,可致气机、血脉运行不畅而伤肉。在历史变迁中,坐姿由跪坐、盘坐变为垂足高坐,现代研究中的“久坐”定义还将卧位和半卧位也包含在内,以静而少动为特征。所以今之久坐不惟伤肉,还有伤气之弊。现代研究还指出久坐可伤腰脊。当久坐难以避免时,应尽量减少久坐持续时间,加以间断,增加运动,减少久坐对健康的影响。古今坐姿虽有变迁,无论古代坐姿养生术还是现代研究,都强调坐时采取端正的坐姿。

People used to discuss“muscle injury caused by long sitting”in Huangdi’s Internal Classic based on the theory of“spleen dominating the muscle”,but now we should take the background of the times into account.The sitting posture in the era of Huangdi’s Internal Classic is different from that in the present.The main sitting posture was kneel sitting,which could cause stagnant movement of qi and blood,thus injuring the muscle.In the historical changes,the sitting posture has changed from kneel sitting and cross-legged sitting to the posture like you sitting on a chair now.In recent researches,sitting posture in the definition of sedentariness which also means long sitting,is characterized by quietness and less movement,even includes decubitus position and semi recumbent position.Therefore,long sitting would not only injury muscle,but also qi,even waist and spinal column according to recent researches.When it is hard to avoid prolonged sitting,we should try to reduce sedentary time and increase exercise to reduce the influence of sedentariness on health.In addition,we should break it regularly during sitting.Both ancient methods of health preservation with sitting posture and recent researches emphasize the importance of taking the right sitting posture.