Tips for Keeping Your Shoulders Loose and Working
By Stephen R. Farris
Whether you lift, throw, push or pull throughout your workday, chances are you're using your arms and shoulders much more than you think. Overuse can also lead to aches and pains, as well as cause freezing up and tears. Even working at your computer can bring on shoulder pain.
Who would have thought that sitting at a desk all day, pounding away at a keyboard, could cause pain. Easy, right!? However, doing so for long periods of time could lead to poor posture, headaches, neck pain and back problems.
If you use your arms and shoulders repetitively try some stretching exercises to help in reducing aches and pains, and to avoid future injury. In fact, most all of these can be done while sitting at your desk at work or home.
Desk Angels
Using good posture while staying seated, hold your arms up at shoulder level, bending your elbows at about 90 degrees. Next, without moving your head or trunk, slowly raise your arms upward, keeping them even with your ears, then bring them back down to the starting point. Repeat the process for about 10 reps.
Roll Your Shoulders
Not to be mistaken for tootsie rolls, this has to do with keeping your shoulders more nimble. So here's the scoop; with your back straight, tuck your chin toward your chest and roll your shoulders forward, up, down, then back. Kind of like going in a circle, so to speak. Do this at least 10 times, then reverse the motion for another 10 times.
Work Those Traps!
This one is pretty easy. With your back straight, tilt your head towards the shoulder. Hold for approximately 10 seconds, release, and do the other side. You can do as many as needed, but it might take just a couple for each side.
Stretching Those Armpits
Hopefully you remembered to put on deodorant before you left for work. Regardless, here's what to do. Again, good posture. Back straight, head turned towards the shoulder with your nose pointed towards your armpit -- hence the deodorant reference. Now, hold the back of your head with your hand and move your nose closer to the armpit area. Hold for 10 seconds, but don't apply too much pressure to the point of discomfort. Release, then do the other side. Do at least a couple of reps.
These are a few tips to help keep your shoulders loose and working. Talk with your chiropractor to find out more, and if you find yourself experiencing aches and pains in your shoulder, neck, back, or joints, he/she can help you with those as well.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pasadena, Tex.