02/24/2025
Exercises to counteract the challenges of sitting all day--
From the LA Times:
latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2025-01-21/easy-exercises-help-desk-jobs-aches-pains
Sitting is far worse than I’d even imagined, I learned in my reporting. (Yes, sitting is the new smoking … over a glass of wine!) Even just three or four continuous hours of sedentary behavior can lead to weakened, tight muscles, joint stiffness, inflammation in the muscles and tendons and tight fascia, among other problems. Deconditioned muscles, in turn — if left untreated — can lead to a host of painful conditions, including tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic lower back pain.
Excessive sitting also increases blood sugar concentration and puts us at risk for more global health issues, such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
OK, I’ll stop. But suffice to say, extensive inactivity — particularly sitting at a desk, which presents unique biomechanical challenges because the knees and hips are positioned at unnatural 90-degree angles — is really, really bad for you.
I interviewed sports medicine doctors, exercise physiologists, PT experts and fitness trainers to better understand the link between desk work and pain or chronic disease, and to come up with targeted, proactive exercises for six regions of the body. The exercises are meant to both stretch and strengthen your body parts; done regularly, they’ll help keep desk work-related aches and injuries at bay.
Sitting for long periods can cause pain and injuries. Try these stretches to alleviate problem areas like your neck, lower back, wrists and shoulders.
