It’s all getting a bit grown up now
Whether you are clinging on to the rather more carefree days of your teens and early twenties, or embracing the increased responsibilities that come with adulthood, you are probably starting to see some changes in your physical capabilities, and this can be a bit disconcerting, particularly when you’re still young.
These issues often start to set in when the office desk and computer begin to play a significant part in life, whether that’s as a student or at work. Whatever the situation, pretty much any role these days tends to involve a lot of time sitting at a desk, whether that’s in the classroom, in a lecture hall, at home, at work, or in a multitude of other locations now that we’re all connected anywhere and everywhere. Readers of our website know that we are advocates of good workspace assessments for posture and wellbeing (or ‘lifernomics’ as we call it).
Desk-itis or repetitive strain?
By this stage, you’re probably well into your chosen career, and if it’s a desk-bound one, you may find that you’re not moving nearly as much as you used to, and you might be starting to seize up a bit from a musculoskeletal perspective. Equally, if you’re in a physical job, there may be some strain setting in from any repetitive work you carry out, such as lifting, loading or stretching.
What can you achieve to help?
So, what can you do about it?
Proper lifting technique:
Plan what you are going to do – limit strain by reducing awkward movements
Keep the item close to your body, keeping a firm grip on the item to be carried
Feet should be shoulder width apart
Bend your knees and keep your back straight
Engage your stomach muscles in preparation for the lift
Look forward – this will help with maintaining a better position for your spine
Avoid twisting whilst carrying the object. Turn whilst stepping, rather than feet being still
Get help, rather than overdoing it
Desk-based job daily routine:
It is good practice to have a 5–10-minute break from your desk every hour. Having a walk around is best, at worst a simple change of position can help stop the body seizing up. Below we have included a link to some useful basic chair-based exercises (along with a few others as you will see) that can keep the body flexible despite long days sitting at your desk or in front of the computer screen, here: https://www.shelterpub.com/fitness-guides
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We hope these are helpful but talk to us about your individual circumstances or needs (as an individual, or for your team members).
Contact Life Made Simple Physiotherapy
We hope the third in this series of age-related blogs is helpful as we progress through the remainder of 2021 and beyond. We hope you will see that thinking about your physiotherapy care is important and chatting through what you anticipate and expect is part of that process. Please do contact Life Made Simple Physiotherapy by email at Physio@lifemadesimple.co.uk , or by telephone on 07309 272 555 for your individual physiotherapy needs and care.
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