FEELING GREAT: Do exercise in your workplace

It all adds up.

So with that in mind, today I’ll be sharing with you the importance of exercising in the workplace and how it can help you live with less aches and pains so you get through the day easily!

The reason why I’m writing about the workplace is because not many people realise just how much time you spend at work.

Did you know that the average full-time worker spends a year on average, 1,650 hours at work?

That’s equivalent to 68 days or 9 weeks of, day in day out, work!

Now… imagine if you had an office job, or if you DO, think of all those hours you actually spend sat down, not moving and potentially developing poor posture. It’s no wonder you have shoulder pain!

With that in mind, here’s a few of my tips that are handy to use to ease that shoulder pain…

Yoga before and after work is a MUST to stretch away those potential aches and pains in your muscles. It is ideal to do yoga on a morning as you have been sleeping in the same position for a while and will continue to do so at work.

After work is just as important. Doing Yoga after work will stretch your muscles after being sat for so long!

Get some fresh air on your lunch break. This is something I keep telling my staff to do! Not only is a change of scenery good for the mind, it gets you up and moving! Even if it’s just a walk to a park bench, it’s better than nothing!

If you are luckier than me and have an hour for your lunch break, then why not try and go for a brisk walk. This will ease your muscles further of any pain.

Don’t forget to move around at least once within an hour.

If your shoulder pain still hasn’t eased during lunch, but the yoga in the morning worked… then here’s a few exercises that you can try from your desk.

Desk Angels: Sounds sweet doesn’t it? Here’s how you do them…

1. Once you’re sitting straight in your chair, raise your arms straight up, like you’re trying to touch the ceiling.

2. Now keep your body still, (it will be harder than you anticipate!) and move your arms together, back and forth. You’ll notice the stretch, pull in your mid back when you move your arms behind your head.

3. Now repeat this 10 times.

Shoulder Rolls: This one is probably the most common out of the exercises.

1. Keep your back straight and your chin tucked in.

2. Roll your shoulders forwards 10 times, and then repeat backwards.

Armpit Stretch: This one is probably the most difficult, in the sense that it’s difficult to feel the stretch. When you do though, you’ll know! This exercise targets the muscle near your shoulder blade.

1. Sit with your back straight and rotate your head sideways so that your nose is directly above your armpit.

2. Hold your head with your hand and gently use it to push your nose closer to your armpit.

3. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat twice on each side.

Like I said before, it might be best to do this one when everyone has gone for lunch.

So, quick summary! Now you know how long you actually spend at work and potentially in an office chair, it’s clear to see the importance of exercise in the workplace.

Shoulder pain can often come from poor posture in the workplace. So Remember! The hours you work build up and so does the pressure and pain in your shoulders!

If you have or are about to retire, then these exercise can still be done at home and I would still recommend using these tips to ease any shoulder pain that you may have.

So give these tips a try and start to feel the benefits quicker!

If you’d like more quick tips like this to help ease shoulder pain, please visit my website where you can download my free tips guide instantly: http://www.paulgoughphysio.com/neck-shoulder-pain