Musculoskeletal Health and Cancer: Why Posture and Movement Matter

We all know sitting too long can cause back pain, but what if it could also raise your risk of cancer? Most people don’t think about how hours spent on a couch, at a desk, or scrolling on a phone can quietly affect recovery and long-term health. A sedentary lifestyle doesn’t just weaken muscles; it can increase pain, affect posture, and even raise the risk of cancer.

The Cost of Sitting Too Long

Many people living with or beyond cancer spend more time sitting than moving. Cancer survivors are less active than people without cancer and face more fatigue and pain. When the body stays still for long hours, the muscles that support the spine and neck grow weak. The shoulders curve forward, the back stiffens, and daily movements start to hurt. This pain often begins as mild stiffness but slowly turns into chronic discomfort. And since cancer treatment already causes muscle loss and reduced flexibility, these effects feel stronger and last longer.

How movement supports recovery

Simple movement can make a big difference. A 2023 meta-analysis showed that regular exercise helps people with cancer feel less pain and have more energy. Even light activities like walking, stretching, or yoga improve strength and posture. Movement keeps muscles active, supports balance, and helps manage stress, all important for a smoother recovery.

Connection to cancer risk

Sitting too long doesn’t just cause back or neck pain. It can also raise the risk of cancer. Long sedentary hours increase the chances of colon, breast (especially after menopause), endometrial, and ovarian cancers. A 2023 study found that people who sit more than eight hours a day face a higher risk of cancer-related death, even if they exercise later. Prolonged sitting can cause weight gain, increase inflammation, and disturb hormone balance, all linked to cancer growth. When the body stays inactive, fat builds up, insulin levels rise, and the immune system slows down. These changes make it harder for the body to protect itself from abnormal cell growth.

Simple habits to stay active

• Take short walks every hour.
• Stretch your back, shoulders, and neck during the day.
• Sit straight with your feet flat and back supported.
• Try light exercises like yoga, breathing stretches, or resistance bands.
• Set small posture reminders while working or resting.

Take little steps

Rest is part of healing, but too much sitting can slow recovery and might increase future risks. Staying active helps reduce pain, improve posture, and protect against certain cancers. Even a few minutes of movement every hour can make a lasting difference. For anyone living with or beyond cancer, movement is strength, and strength is healing.