Pain at the office, what can you do?
Offices have been known to be the place that my patients notice their part starting or else notice their pain is aggravated. You have to be able to identify the source, majority of it is because they aren’t moving much or at all during the day. So that is a great place to start!
I get it, it can be challenging to move throughout the work day. We get sucked into our work and before we know it 2 hours have gone by with you staring at your computer. It is extremely important to take the time to move or switch positions. Keep in mind, there is no “proper posture”. The best thing you can do is move & move often. This may include getting up to go on a walk to another person’s desk, going to the bathroom, walking to the water fountain, etc. This can be really easy if we have a sit/stand desk, think about how you can be sitting for a bit then standing. Very simple to switch positions often.
Another way to help with your overall health at the office is making sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day. When we talk about water, most of the time my patients will say “I drank some water”, or “I drank my 30 oz at the office”. That might not be enough. An easy solution is to have a refillable water bottle at the office, maybe with a straw because scientifically speaking you drink more through a straw (ok, maybe not but I find it helpful!). This is a great way to get your steps in as well since you have to walk to the water fountain to fill the water bottle which means you are moving! It is simple, effective but yet purposeful at the same time!
Another thing to think about is improving mobility in your body. We tend to spend most of the day in a seated, forward flexed position. Think of the position when we are on a computer, often “hunched forward”. One of my favorite exercises to give to desk workers is called the Thoracic Reset. You start out by wrapping your arms around yourself like you are giving a hug. Dropping your head & rounding forward even more. Then release the hug, fling your arms back, squeeze between your shoulder blades & drop your head backwards. These two movements are opposite of each other. Performed 3-4 times and see how you feel. Are you feeling more open or feeling less hunched over? Great! You can perform as many times throughout the day as you find helpful.
If you have any questions or wondering what chiropractic care can do for you and your pain, reach out or book an appointment!
