When you're at your desk, the tendency is to look down with your head, which leads to forward flexion. Shoulders round forward, and your back is rounded; this, by definition, causes repetitive stress. Repetitive stress over time is what causes arthritis and degeneration, as well as a lack of flexibility. So, the best way to counteract it is to do stretching throughout the day.

People always say to get up and take a break every 20 minutes; this is the reason why. They don't want you doing the same activity all day. A great way to counteract this is through a stretch called "Bruegger's". It's a stretch where you go into the exact opposite posture from the one you've been in all day. What you're going to do is put your arms behind your back, stretching your pecs a little. Then, straighten those elbows as much as you can. The problem is, you get so used to being hunched over all the time that it's actually challenging to do the stretch. It should be a very easy stretch, feel good, and be comfortable. 

The issue arises when you're always sitting at a desk; you lose that flexibility. So, what you do is straighten your elbows as best you can, then arch your back and come all the way back like this. By doing this, you're doing the exact opposite of what you've been doing all day, every day. It's critical that you perform this stretch, even for just 5 seconds. Doing so resets the ligaments, muscles, and tendons, preventing repetitive stress.

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Dr Michael Watins, DC
330 West 58th Street, Suite 413 New York, NY 10019
Call us today: (212) 765-6470
Email: frontdesk@drwatins.com