Sitting for too long has been shown to have a negative impact on your body. With sedentary behavior, changes are seen in insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular and metabolic function, along with the increased risk of mortality. This includes high blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, and increased body fat and cholesterol levels. Research suggests that on average, adults sit for approximately 60% of their waking day, which is more than 7 hours!¹  It is our job to help you take ownership of your body, and not allow environmental factors to dictate your movement capacity. Follow along in this article to learn some awesome desk job exercises you can easily replicate with just yourself and about 3-5 feet of space.

 

Sedentary Behavior Leads To Lack Of Movement

Sedentary behaviors, like sitting, reduce your energy expenditure compared to standing or moving. Sitting can lead to cardiovascular problems by directly impacting the body’s ability to properly deposit fats in the bloodstream. Additionally, healthy cholesterol, known as HDL, may also be impaired with prolonged periods of sitting.² HDL’s function is to keep arteries clear of plaque. When HDL’s function is disrupted, plaque starts to build up in blood vessels,  and can further increase one’s risk for cardiovascular dysfunction. This can all be combated with just a few easy steps that we want to share with you, so read on!

 

Want To Stay Fit But Don’t Have Access To A Gym?

At Team [P]rehab we have spent the past 10 years merging exercise science with physical therapy allowing us to create the ultimate full-body fitness program which will not only build your physical body safely and effectively but will also change the way you workout & approach exercise forever. Get started today!

 

Ailments Related To Desk Jobs

Other common ailments of individuals who work at a desk include musculoskeletal issues such as neck, back and shoulder pain. In addition to physical pains, sitting can negatively impact your mood and ability to handle stress.  One study by Coulson et al. looked at exercising and performance in the workplace. They found that on days when workers exercised, they had higher scores on performance indicators as well as self-reported improvements in mood.

So, is it possible and if so, how hard does one have to work to undo all of the negative effects of sitting?! Ecklund et al. performed a meta-analysis to answer just that.⁴ They looked at 16 studies and data from over one million adult men and women. In this study, the researchers categorized walking at 3.5 miles per hour or biking at 10 miles per hour as “moderate intensity” exercise levels. They concluded that between 60-75 minutes of exercise equivalent to moderate intensity on a daily basis was enough to counteract the effects of 8 hours of daily sitting. The study also found that individuals who did not participate in any form of physical activity, regardless of their daily sitting time, had the highest risk of early death. That risk, the study concluded, was equivalent to the risk associated with obesity and smoking. The sedentary individuals in the study were 28-59% more likely to die early than individuals who were most active.

Therefore, no physical activity at all poses a greater risk to one’s health than extended periods of sedentary behavior, such as sitting.

READ: IS THERE A PERFECT DESK WORK POSTURE?

 

Keep It Simple – Just Move!

The good news is that there are easy ways to start counteracting the effects of sitting! Try out the following tips to incorporate more movement into your daily routine, break up your sitting time, and recharge your brain and body!

 

1. Alternate between sitting and standing while working: This is most easily done if you have a desk that can be raised and lowered to accommodate your work station set up at both heights. However, if you don’t have an adjustable desk, you can improvise by using a high table or counter. Another strategy is to stand while talking on the phone or even walking with your work colleagues for meetings.

 

2. Some individuals have taken the standing desk idea a step further and have started utilizing a treadmill desk! Companies have started making specialized treadmill desks, but you can also simply position your workstation on a stand above a regular treadmill to be able to walk and work throughout the day.

 

3. Take a break every 30 minutes and try these stretches to address both your upper body and lower body muscles that commonly get tight with desk job work. Pick 2 or 3 stretches to perform every 30 minutes. Try to hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds at a time. Ways that you can remember to take a break is putting a note on your desk or using your phone/computer to set a reminder.

 

Quick Tips To Improve Your Postural Pain

 

Pec and bicep stretch

Sample [P]rehab At Home Program

Sitting position often leads to rounded shoulders and tightness throughout our arms. This pec and arm stretch is a great way to open up the front of your chest wall!

 

Chin tucks

There is a correlation between poor posture, sedentary habits, and neck pain. The chin tuck exercise is a great way to work on improving your neck strength! 

 

Standing hip flexor stretch on chair

Sample [P]rehab Fitness At Home Program Exercise

The front of our hips often becomes tight when we sit for long periods of time. This is a great way to open up your hips right at your desk chair!

 

The Prehab membership is the anti-barrier solution to keeping your body healthy. Access state-of-the-art physical therapy, fitness programs, and workouts online in the comforts of your own home or gym! Taking control of your health with exercise & education from the palm of your hand has never been easier. Get access to 50+ programs, 100+ unique workouts, and 3000+ exercises to build your own workout routines. Trial it for free, and learn how to get out of pain, avoid injury, and optimize your health with [P]rehab!

 

We Need To Do More Than Just Stretch!

Stretching has its time and place, but our body needs activation of our muscles to make that mobility stick! In addition to stretching, try these exercises during your breaks to strengthen up your muscles that may be weaker from sitting. What’s great about these is that they don’t require any gym equipment, so you can do them at work!

Also, be sure to check out our podcast if you want to learn more about the concept of stretching.

LISTEN: HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REALLY BE STRETCHING?

 

Strengthening Exercises For Desk Job Workers

Chair dips

Sample [P]rehab Fitness At Home Program Exercise

The dip is a great way to strengthen your chest and arms. Keeping your elbows tucked in close to your sides will decrease the stress through your shoulders with this exercise.

 

Push ups

Sample [P]rehab Fitness At Home Program Exercise

You can modify this by doing desk push ups if the standard push up is too challenging to start. Pick a variation that you can complete at least 3 repetitions at a time. Try to get up to 30 push ups a day!

 

Get Your Heart Pumping!

The following exercises can be performed as a cardiovascular routine. Perform 2 rounds of 30 seconds of each movement, trying to complete as many repetitions as possible.

 

High knees

Sample [P]rehab At Home Exercise Video

 

Lunges

 

 

Closing Thoughts

Start with these exercises to get your blood pumping, reduce stiffness and aches and recharge your mind! Ask a coworker to join you to help you stay on track and to add some fun to your routine. You will notice that simple and even leisurely movement can have positive impacts on your physical and mental well-being. The more you move, the better you will feel.

 

Want To Stay Fit But Don’t Have Access To A Gym?

At Team [P]rehab we have spent the past 10 years merging exercise science with physical therapy allowing us to create the ultimate full-body fitness program which will not only build your physical body safely and effectively but will also change the way you workout & approach exercise forever. Get started today!

 

References

1. Matthews CE, Chen KY, Freedson PS, Buchowski MS, Beech BM, Pate RR, Troiano RP. Amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors in the United States, 2003-2004. Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Apr 1;167(7):875-81. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwm390. Epub 2008 Feb 25. PMID: 18303006; PMCID: PMC3527832.
2. https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/files-for-resource-library/reducing-sedentary-behaviors-sit-less-and-move-more.pdf?sfvrsn=4da95909_2
3. Daneshmandi H, Choobineh A, Ghaem H, Karimi M. Adverse Effects of Prolonged Sitting Behavior on the General Health of Office Workers. J Lifestyle Med. 2017;7(2):69-75. doi:10.15280/jlm.2017.7.2.69
4. Ulf Ekelund, Jostein Steene-Johannessen, Wendy J Brown, Morten Wang Fagerland, Neville Owen, Kenneth E Powell, Adrian Bauman, I-Min Lee. Does physical activity attenuate, or even eliminate, the detrimental association of sitting time with mortality? A harmonised meta-analysis of data from more than 1 million men and women. The Lancet, 2016; DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30370-1
5. Coulson, J.C. & McKenna, Jim & Field, M.. (2008). Exercising at work and self-reported work performance. International Journal of Workplace Health Management. 1. 176-197. 10.1108/17538350810926534.

 

Disclaimer – The content here is designed for information & education purposes only and is not intended for medical advice.