Even if you love your job, spending eight-plus hours a day, five days a week, in an office chair doesn’t do wonders for your body. In fact, The Mayo Clinic has linked prolonged sitting to a number of health issues, from abnormal cholesterol levels to high blood pressure and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Many professionals will also experience aches and pains, thanks to their gigs. It’s not all bad news though. Certain stretches and lifestyle habits can lower the stress on our bodies. Here, experts recommend strategies to implement today:
FORWARD HEAD POSTURE CONDITION
Ever wake up and your neck is so stiff, you can barely turn it? Do you feel tension in between your shoulder blades? If so, you’re one of the 30% of Americans who complain of neck and upper back stress, according to chiropractor Dr. Joseph Taylor. There are plenty of reasons we experience this ache, but Dr. Taylor say the main culprit are desk jobs. Many people don’t sit up straight, which puts more pressure than we realise on the upper half of our bodies.
“Sitting at a computer often puts the shoulders in a rounded position and allows the head to lean forward,” he continues. “Being in this position for hours at a time, day-after-day, year-after-year can gradually cause the bones in the neck and upper back to change from their natural position to this abnormal forward position.” It’s so common in professionals that it has its own medical condition: Forward Head Posture.
If left untreated, it can have some grave consequences, including headaches, migraines, muscle spasms, jaw or TMJ conditions, and decreased lung capacity. “Oftentimes, the condition has been silently developing long before pain is experienced and, if not properly diagnosed, this condition will worsen over time and potentially reach a level that is irreversible,” Dr. Taylor warns.
If you’re in pain, it’s important to see your physician for recommendations on physical therapy and treatment. Dr. Taylor also encourages professionals to demand proper ergonomics in the workplace, including computer screens that are placed at eye level. “Sitting with your feet flat on the floor, back straight, and shoulders square will prevent excessive strain on the neck and upper back,” he says.
CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
It’s estimated 80% of adults will experience chronic low back pain at some point in their lifetime. While it’s super common, it doesn’t come without consequence to our health—and to the workforce, according to kinesiology, yoga, and movement specialist Samantha Parker. She explains it’s the leading cause of disability worldwide, and accounts for an estimated 26 million days of work lost annually.
Sure, shifting our chair position and desk height can alleviate symptoms, says Parker, but the true relief is found in our lower body, including our hip flexors, quadriceps, and hamstrings. “The muscles in our legs attach to our pelvis, which is the gatekeeper between the upper body and the lower body,” she explains. Because we sit at a 90-degree angle, the majority of our day, our muscles become tight, creating tension and pulling on our pelvis.
“Most of us will automatically do simple movements in our chair at our desk to move the torso to alleviate discomfort. Yet, we forget to stretch our legs,” she says. “And sticking them out straight for a few seconds is not going to cut it.”
Instead, create a habit of giving your hips and legs some TLC before bed. This can be as simple as leg raises up and down, to the right and left, as well as lunges.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
We ask a lot of our wrists: typing, moving a mouse, lifting weights, groceries, and so on. Overuse of this small part of our body can cause a very uncomfortable condition called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Certified personal trainer and international holistic health coach Koya Webb says more than eight million are diagnosed each year, and you’re more at risk if you log hours in an office.
Webb defines CTS as wrist strain characterised by numbness, prickling, burning, or weakness in our hand. It’s caused by excessive and repeated pressure on our median nerve.
If you worry you already have CTS, Webb says to see a doctor ASAP for solutions, and to get started with exercises to improve the health of your hands. This includes pressing the base of your hands up against the wall in front of you or on your desk, pulling on each finger, and opening and closing a fist.
SLIPPING OR FALLING INJURIES
Most desk-bound professionals don’t consider their working conditions to be hazardous. Especially compared to those who work in factories or in the farming industry, walking into a building every day doesn’t seem to hold much of a risk.
But according to chiropractor and certified personal trainer Dr. Anthony Crifase, office workers are two to 2.5 times more likely to suffer from a disabling injury from a fall than non-office workers. When you trip or lose your balance, most people have instant reactions, like landing on an outstretched hand. Dr. Crifase says this can cause damage to your shoulder, wrist, and upper body. “You can suffer from wrist dislocations or fractures, rotator cuff tears, shoulder labrum tears, and more,” he says.
In an office setting, there are plenty of potential hurdles that can cause this injury, including loose carpeting, uneven tiles, wet floors, bad lighting, an open desk or drawer, and electrical chords. It may seem silly, but Dr. Crifase says most of this can be prevented by walking more slowly, paying attention to your surroundings, and well, cleaning up after yourself.
If you see an issue that requires management to call maintenance, speak up. It’s within your rights as an employee to have a safe working environment, and cleanliness is part of that. And if you do have an accident? Seek help immediately, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
EYE STRAIN
Webb says 60% of American adults report experiencing digital eye strain, with symptoms ranging from soreness and heavy eyelids, to burning and itching eyes, as well as blurred vision and headaches. Of all of the injuries, this one might not feel as intense, but over time, our sight can be impacted.
Webb recommends “eye yoga”: a relaxed set of exercises that can be done throughout the day to improve the flexibility of your sight and improve your focus.
She suggests closing your eyes repeatedly, and then looking up, down, left and right. “As you’re doing so, pretend you’re looking at the numbers on a clock in front of you. Repeat looking from 12 to 3 and then from 6 to 9. Then reverse the direction,” she says. You can also try blinking rapidly several times, and then closing your eyes for 20 seconds. These, and other exercises, are helpful when your main line of sight daily is your computer screen.
Article originally appeared on fastcompany.com
