March 28, 2024

Sit a desk all day? This stretch is for YOU!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Chest and Front Shoulder Stretch!

If you sit at a computer most of the day, or are hunched over a desk for hours on end, do this stretch a few times every day:

Inhale and lace your fingers behind your head. Exhale, pull your shoulders down and back, and elbows wide. Hold for a count of 10, then release.

Not only does this stretch ease tension in your neck due to pulling your shoulders back correcting posture, but you’ll also decrease low back tension due to sitting up straight with your spine aligned and upright.

 

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

 

Break Up Your Day with Fitness!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Add in Fitness Breaks!

Add fitness breaks into your day and decrease tension and stress. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Wall the hallway.

Stretch at your desk.

Drink water.

Grab a fruit snack.

Do a set of pushups, wall squats or planks.

Take 5 deep breaths.

Instead of sending an email, walk to your co-workers office.

Perform a cardio burst of jumping jacks, jog in place or squat jumps.

Lunch time walk outdoors.

Stand Up Straight with this Stretch!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Stretch your Chest and Front Shoulder!

Stand up. Place your right hand on the wall or door frame slightly lower than shoulder level. Keep your elbow straight, and gently turn your body away from your hand. Pull your right shoulder down and back feeling a stretch across your chest and front shoulder. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. Repeat the stretch placing your left hand on the wall or door frame.

Stretching your chest and front shoulder allows for proper posture. This means you stand up straight, longer! Proper posture reduces muscle tension and stress that comes from slouching. Taking regular stand up stretching breaks during your day reminds your body of neutral or a properly aligned body position. You’ll have more energy and feel better!

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

At-the-Computer Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Stretch your Wrist Extensor Muscles!

Working on a computer all day can leave the muscles of your hands and forearms overworked, tight and sore. Add in a hunched-forward shoulder posture and long hours without a break, and the stress on your wrist extensor muscles only increases. Perform this easy at-your-computer stretch during the day to give your hands a mini-break.

Extend your right arm forward so it is parallel to the floor, with your palm facing down. Gentle curl your fingers in and down feeling a subtle stretch in the top of your forearm. Hold for 10-30 seconds, then release. Repeat with your left arm forward.

 

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Post-Walking Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Post-Walking Stretch

After you’ve completed your walk or run, perform a Standing Lunge Stretch to maintain mobility of your ankle.

Stand facing a wall or post. Place both hands on the wall about chest-level. Step about 18 inches back with your right foot. Push your right heel down, and bend your left knee slightly feeling a stretch in your right calf muscle. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds. Release and return to your starting position. Repeat the stretch by stepping back with your left foot. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, and release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Sore Feet?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Stretch!

If you’re on your feet all day, try this simple Calf Stretch to ease sore feet.

Use a step or a curb, or on any stable platform that is about two inches off the floor. Place your right foot flat on the step, hold on for balance. Place the ball of your left foot on the step with your heel hanging off. Slowly drop your left heel, feeling a gentle stretch in the left calf.  Hold for ten to thirty seconds. Release the stretch. Repeat with your left foot flat on the step and your right heel hanging off.

 

*Always consult your physician before beginning exercise.

How to Exercise at your Desk by Sarah Johnson

We realize it’s sometimes tough to fit in exercise during the work day, especially with all of the family activities you have planned before and after your 9-5!  But taking even a 5 to 10 minute break during your work day can help you de-stress, re-focus and gain energy.  And you don’t even have to change out of your work clothes!

Try these desk exercises the next time you need a pick me up at work:

Chair Squats (Sit to Stand)
Stand shoulder width apart in front of your chair and lower your body down as if you are about to sit back in your chair.  Then press through your heels back up to a standing position. (If your chair has wheels make sure it is against a wall!)

Desk or Chair Dips

While sitting on your chair, place your hands on either side of you-palms facing back. Take a step forward and lift your hips off the chair and slightly forward. Lower your body down by bending at your elbows and push back up to the starting position by extending your elbows.

Desk Push-ups

Place your hands on your desk slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Walk your feet back so you are in a straight line from head to heels.  Lower your chest towards the desk while keeping your back flat, then press up to the starting position.

Wall Sits

Place your back against a wall and take a step forward with both feet. Slowly lower your body down until your knees are at a 90 degree angle (if that is too far, go only as far as you can). Hold this position with your arms relaxed at your sides, or with computer on your lap.

Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahJChicago

Break-Time: At-Your-Desk Stretching

Unfortunately sore, tired, painful muscles and joints are a regular and ongoing challenge for those who work in front of a computer. However, there is help! Welcome to the world of ergonomics. Ergonomics involve fitting a worker to his/her work space. An ergonomic evaluation will review posture, reach and focal points, including such angles as seat height, monitor position and keyboard placement just to name a few. A proper fit prevents many of the overuse conditions we may experience, such as cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive stress injuries and repetitive motion injuries. We know of these conditions as tendonitis, sprains, strains, carpel tunnel syndrome, neck/back pain, and bursitis.

One beneficial action to take right now is to take mini-breaks during your work day, school day or study day. Here are several stretches with which to begin: (As always, consult your doctor before beginning any exercises.)

Reach up and over stretch. Reach both arms straight up overhead. Lean to your right, then your left.

Wrist circles. Circle your wrists 5 times one direction, then 5 times the opposite direction.

Extend fingers stretch. Make a fist, then extend and straighten your fingers.

Hands behind body with chin to chest stretch. Lace your fingers behind your body. Keeping your torso upright, extend your arms, and press your hands down toward the floor. At the same time lower your chin toward your chest.

Arms out to sides stretch. Extend both arms straight out the sides of your body. Keeping your arms parallel to the floor and your palms facing forward, pinch your shoulder blades together and pull your arms back.

Hands behind head stretch. Lace your fingers and place your hands on the back of your neck. Keeping your hands in place and your torso upright, pinch your shoulder blades together and pull your elbows wide.

Palm down and in stretch. Extend your right arm in front of your body with your palm facing the floor. Curl your fingers in while bending your wrist down and in. Repeat with your left arm forward.

Arms overhead with look up stretch. Lace your fingers and reach both arms up overhead until your elbows are straight. Look up to the ceiling.

Investing in a professional ergonomics evaluation, taking breaks and doing a few stretches or range of motion exercises during the day will help reduce common overuse injuries we find in the workplace. You’ll also improve work efficiency as well as comfort during your day.