5 Stretches You can do at Your Desk

by Taylor Wisnewski April 30, 2018

If you work in a sedentary setting you know how much your muscles can lock up during the day. Sitting for hours on end is not good for our bodies and it can lead to loss of fitness but also damage to muscles and joints over time. As focused on work as we tend to be, it’s important to do what we can to help our bodies stay healthy but sometimes it isn’t feasible to take long breaks at work.

That’s where stretching come in. It may be just a small thing, but stretching daily does wonders for joints and muscles. According to Mayo Clinic, stretching at your desk can help with muscle pain as well as stiffness. These five stretches are the easiest to do at your desk without attracting too much attention.

Lower Back Stretch: Keeping your back straight, bring one knee up toward your chest. Holding your thigh, pull it gently toward your chest until you feel tension in your back.
Shoulder Stretch: We all know this one from gym class. With your hand on your opposite elbow, lift your elbow so that your arm is being stretches across your chest. Keep your back straight and don’t rotate your hips.
Chest Stretch: Bend your elbows and place both hands behind your head. Press your elbows backward to feel the tension in your chest.
Arm Stretch: Another gym class favorite. Bend one arm with your elbow up and your hand behind your back. Grab your elbow with the other hand and gently pull it toward your head to feel tension in your upper arm.
Neck Stretch: Keeping your shoulders straight and facing forward, tilt your ear down toward your shoulder to stretch your neck muscles. Repeat with the other side.

You can do even more to keep your muscles limber by starting a collagen supplement regimen. Traditional Tonic Nourishing Collagen is a collagen supplement that supports joint health and provides your body with amino acids which the body uses to heal and build your muscles. With Traditional Tonic and regular stretching, your long work days should have less of a negative effect on your muscles and joints.