A BuffDuck Board Contributor
During this time of quarantine, there is no doubt that we are spending a lot of time sitting. I am guilty myself watching a bunch of videos and browsing social media for hours on hours. But even before the pandemic, the average person spent a lot of their day either sitting behind a desk, driving a car, or at home watching television and browsing social media. With all this extra sitting we are doing now, we need to stay alert while seated because our posture can cause strain on our bodies; especially when we are sitting idle at a desk for long periods of time, on a couch, or even while sleeping. It is easy to lose track of time while sitting at the computer. I know I need to consciously remind myself to take time out of my work day to stretch after working on the computer for long periods of time.
By taking a small break, you can increase the blood flow to your muscles which will increase energy and give your muscles a break from being still in a chair for so long. By just taking a few minutes out of your day to stand and move, you interrupt a cycle of inactivity that can lead to future health complications.
According to a study on the US National Library of Medicine website, 80% people using computers for more than 4 hours complain of back pain.
I know as I have become more aware of my posture, I catch myself as I slowly “relax” into a slouch that may feel more comfortable at the moment, but can have serious health problems in the future. Jon Cinkaya, a physical therapist and exercise physiologist in the HSS Rehabilitation Department explains how after 15 minutes of sitting or standing in the same place, most people start to slouch. You may be slouching without even realizing it!
Not only does slouching cause back pain, it increases abdominal pressure, which puts pressure on the bladder and causes pelvic floor issues. Furthermore, slouching can force stomach acid in the wrong direction resulting in heartburn and slowed digestion. It is important to be aware of these bad posture habits and correct them as soon as possible.
Okay enough of all the negatives, here are some stretches that can help fix your posture and relieve your muscles!
Image courtesy of Northern Arizona University
Image courtesy of Washington University Physicians
Image courtesy of University Rochester Medical Center
Stretching is a vital routine of any person. A Harvard Health Letter explains how without stretching, a person is prone to joint pain, strains, and muscle damage, especially during times of physical exertion.
Start by trying these stretches throughout the day. Before attempting any of these stretches, we recommend speaking with your certified doctor or physical therapist. If you would like more stretches to perform, you can visit this PDF from UC Berkeley where all the stretches in this article were sourced from.
I do not know about you guys but since the start quarantine I have developed a little bit of a belly! I blame all this work I am doing in front of the computer. If you also seem to have gained a few pounds, check out this article I wrote about losing weight without having to starve yourself.
Bella Baragouin is a writer for the BuffDuck Board and has been writing written pieces for over four years.