Born to Move

Even though we have evolved from what is referred to as “lazy stock” (the great ape – if you believe in the theory of evolution), our first ancestors began hunting and gathering as soon as they became 'true humans’. That activity was tremendously demanding, involving hours of daily physical effort. As the human body’s characteristics adapted to strenuous exercise, which was fundamental to maintain life (hunting to eat) they became inherent and passed on to all descendants of the species (from Homo Habilis to Sapiens).

 

Therefore, the structures of the modern human body have been shaped to move and be physically active. Even if you don’t subscribe to the theory of an extremely long human evolutionary period (circa 6 million years), just consider the actual physical structures and components of our modern bodies:

 

The musculoskeletal system provides form, stability and movement to the human body and its structure comprises

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• 206 bones

• 600 muscles

• 350 joints (+or-)

• 900 ligaments (approx.)

• 4,000 tendons (approx.)

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Our body has 30 pairs of motor nerves and approximately 500,000 motor neurons (nerve cells), sending information from the Central Nervous System, allowing for both voluntary and involuntary movements through the innervation of effector muscles and glands. 

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The musculoskeletal system acts as endocrine system, stimulated by exercise, interacting through biochemical signalling with other organs in the body.

 

So, here's a simple question: does our amazing body seem to have been naturally built to be sedentary?

 

“In our Palaeolithic past, we could know what our bodies needed by listening to what they wanted. In the modern world, relying on our neural reward systems to deliver the proper dose of exercise feels a bit like trusting a 4-year-old to serve themselves healthy portions of broccoli and ice cream. Our strange modern environment has also exposed our seemingly paradoxical relationship with exercise. Some of us seek it out in large doses, feeding the evolved craving for physical activity. Yet, mostly we avoid it. Our lazy inner ape calls the shots far too often.” (New Scientist Essential Guide No 16)