This ‘harmless’ habit is the quickest way to end up in a nursing home when you’re older, warns physical therapist

This news is off the rocker.

“If you’re wondering what the quickest way to end up in a nursing home is, I’ll tell you what I see every week,” physical therapist John Thompson (@thefalldoc), who specializes in home healthcare.

While you might be thinking the culprit is a bad fall, Thompson says the harm comes from a seemingly innocuous habit.

“Working with countless patients who hit a point where their families have no choice but to put them in a nursing home, every single one of them has this one thing in common,” he cautioned, with the words “harmless now, nursing home later” floating above him on the video.

What’s the common curse?

“They’ve been stuck in a recliner for years and now have legs so weak that they can’t get out of it,” he said.

Johnson explained that there are few things more sinister than a sedentary lifestyle.

“Sitting will slowly destroy your legs and your health if that’s what your life consists of when you retire,” he said.

Prolonged sitting has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, depression, and even some cancers. In fact, a study of 8,000 adults found a direct link between extended sitting and an increased risk of early death.

Thompson urged those on the edge of retirement to resist the siren call of their recliner.

“If you’re retired or getting close, please don’t fall into that trap. Build a routine that keeps you moving,” he said.

His advice is echoed by that of other experts.

Stephen Williams, a cardiologist at NYU Langone, previously told The Post that being sedentary is just as harmful to your health as smoking.

“A sedentary lifestyle is now seen as the ‘new smoking lifestyle,’” Williams said. “It is that bad.”

Physical activity offers a host of benefits, including weight management, lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, stronger bones and muscles, and reduced inflammation. It also boosts brain function and can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. 

“If you have seen your physician and you are cleared to be active, it is essential to have daily physical activity,” said Williams. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that less than a third of adults get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. And worse, one in four adults sit for more than eight hours a day.

Williams emphasized that you don’t need to spend hours at the gym or run miles on end to improve your health; simply getting your heart rate up for 10-15 minutes at a time, for a total of 30 minutes each day, can be beneficial. 

“If you have been totally sedentary, even a stroll is beneficial.”