Desk jobs are great for some reasons and not so great for others. Most people can agree on one big disadvantage of desk jobs: you become a pretty sedentary person when you work one.
Even if you exercise several times a week, a desk job can still be done Wreak havoc on your body, especially yours Attitude, mobility and flexibility. If you feel the pain and stiffness associated with sedentary work, try some unsuspecting fitness equipment that can help you exercise more all day.
One of the worst things about sitting at a desk for eight or more hours a day is the fluid that builds up in your lower legs. This can cause your legs to appear swollen and somehow feel funky and tight in my experience.
A foot pedal, stepper, or compact elliptical trainer under the desk can promote blood circulation and prevent fluid from accumulating throughout the day. This from ProForm also comes with resistance tubes to add a strengthening aspect if you want.
One thing is certain: if you sit all day, your posture will be destroyed if you are not careful. A less obvious side effect is decreased core strength. You don't consume much of your core while bending over a computer, so your muscles can weaken over time.
A stability ball can repair both your posture and weak core muscles. If you use a stability ball instead of a normal chair, you need to sit upright and snap your core into place to avoid rolling or tipping over.
You can use a normal stability ball like the one from Vive (see below) or choose a full-fledged stability ball office chair like this from Gaiam.
Your hip abductors include all of the muscles that move your legs away from the midline of your body. These muscles are also partially responsible for the rotation of your hips. Place a mini resistance band just above your knees around your legs and press against the resistance to strengthen these important muscles.
If you have a moment when you don't need your hands, you can put a mini band around your forearms and press against the resistance to strengthen your shoulders.
This Gaiam mini band kit has light, medium and heavy resistance levels so you can keep evolving.
Sportsneer
You may feel a little silly wearing ankle weights at your desk, but you won't be sorry if your quads are tight and strong! Ankle weights are really not appreciated enough: they are so versatile. Wear them while you work and occasionally do a series of leg extensions (keep your thigh in the seat and lift it off your knee).
These Sportneer ankle weights fit from one pound to five pounds, making them perfect for all fitness levels. Start with a pound and do a few sets of 10 to 20 leg extensions. You can keep working up on weight and repetitions. Aside from the force aspect, leg extensions can help your blood flow and prevent fluid from building up in your calves and ankles.
revolution
Balance is one of those skills that most people do not know they lack until they are forced to use it. If you have a standing desk, a balance board is a great tool to engage your core, glutes, thighs and calves all day long.
You may be surprised to find that the muscles around your ankles and knees are painful when you use a Balance Board like this from Revolution, which has a handy top deck and an adjustable air cushion.
The obvious advantage of a grip strength ball is an improved grip strength. The more discreet, but perhaps better, benefit is stress relief. Keep this Theraband Hand Exerciser Ball at your desk to press when you could do a little isometric action - or when your employee just caused you to blow an internal fuse.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about an illness or health goals.