Do you have “smart phone slump?” Or maybe “keyboard slump?” This neck and shoulder rescue can help alleviate the stress and strain of our work posture habits.
Our bodies aren’t meant to be stuck in the forward folding posture necessitated by today’s technologies. The spine wants us to keep moving. Trouble brews when we get bogged down during the workday, then go home and spend the evening on our tablets or smart phones.
According to researchers from the Orlando Health system in Florida, poor posture can lead to health issues, such as chronic pain in the back, neck and knees; as well as circulation problems, heartburn and digestive problems.
The health benefits of movement and exercise can be traced back to early civilization. Sports and exercise became popular in the Un.S. during the mid-1800s. As cities and suburbs grew and office work became more common, people exercised less. They also developed more health problems. Unfortunately, adults still struggle to be active, and there are fewer physical education classes in schools for kids. An active lifestyle decreases the risks of long-term health problems, partly because moving regularly decreases inflammation in the body.
Dr. Aaron Armetta, a chiropractor at the Omaha VA Medical Center, offers several simple movements that can help release the tension and strain on our necks and shoulders caused by poor posture from technology overuse. Check out this short video to learn how to take care of your spine at work and at home.
Make a change!
Is it time for you to make a change to get more physical activity in your day? Check out our guide for adding more physical activity into your day: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/Veteran-Handouts/docs/GetMoving-Final508-07-12-2018.pdf.
Andrea Young is a field implementation team consultant for VHA’s Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation.
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Wow. It is like y’all read my mind! I have noticed myself hunched over typing at work. I changed my chair hoping that would help. But it didn’t. I was considering the back brace that he discussed early in the video. Glad I didn’t now. Thank-you for the exercises! Exactly what I needed for my 8 hours at a computer at work!