Whether hard at work or relaxing at home, you can always add in a quick stretch to break the monotony of sitting for long periods of time. (Just don’t try this in the car.) To add a dash of flexibility, relieve tension and generally feel less anxious, give these simple stretches a try the next time the thought strikes you:

Put one leg over the other and twist your body gently in the opposite direction. 

Clasp your hands in front of you with palms facing outward and extend your arms, stretching by pressing your fingers against the backs of your hands. 

You can repeat this stretch overhead. 

Practice flexion and extension stretching with your neck, bringing chin down toward chest and up toward the sky.

Remember to do these stretches gently and stop if they ever cause you pain. A person with a healthy range of motion should be able to perform these stretches free of pain. If all else fails and you can’t remember to do these simple stretches, try and just give yourself a wiggle every once in a while. It may sound over the top, but setting a timer for the top of the hour every hour is not a bad idea. These stretches can take as little as 3 minutes and they will boost both your well being and productivity (that’s what you can tell your boss). 
Enacting these simple changes often starts by adopting a different mentality towards back care. This is not an easy change for some, but if you are suffering from pain, it is always worth considering. At Associates in Chiropractic, we have the expertise to help you make these small changes and watch them grow into something large. Give us a call at our office in Hackensack at (201) 342-6111  to schedule an assessment today.

Dr. Albert Stabile, D.C.