Simple Stretches for Chronic Pain Sufferers at the Workplace
About five months ago I could barely turn my neck. I woke with headaches that had become head/jaw aches and I could barely focus. When I went completely full time and wireless in my job six years ago, I moved to a recliner and my “office” became the end table beside the recliner. After 10 to 14 hours a day, every day of being like this. I found that I had created muscle knots all over the back of my ribcage where the vertebrae were, up my neck, and nearly into the base of my skull.
After the first month of chiropractic visits (two to three times a week), I finally could move my neck again. Today, most of the knots are gone. This is my way of telling you, you don’t have to end up that way.
Take breaks every 30 minutes to an hour and do some simple stretches while still in your chair, whether you are an at home worker or an office worker. Roll your neck in long circles, first to the left and then to the right. Do shoulder shrugs, usually 20 or 30 will be fine. Twist around to the left and hold for 15 seconds, then twist around to the right and hold 15 seconds. Next keep your feet on the floor and lean over, holding your ankles. Hold that for 15 or so seconds as well. If you do that every so often you are keeping your body from staying rigid and will feel much better at the end of the day.
What happened to me was after years of being clueless. I simply didn’t realize what I was doing to my body as it was happening. After I did realize, it was too late for me to help myself and I needed outside help. Today I have an egg timer set beside me so I never get too carried away with work and not remember to do my stretches.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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