These days, the average Canadian adult spends 9 or 10 hours a day sitting. A lot of that comes from our jobs: office workers these days spend about 70% of their workday at their desks. So, it’s no wonder we come away with a host of sedentary-related muscle and joint issues, things like tight hips, rounded shoulders, tension in the neck and upper back, and glutes that feel both sore and weak.
Getting up more is, of course, one great way to counteract these problems, which can cause more serious physical ailments as we get older. But there are also plenty of products on the market that can help. Pick up just a few of the items on this list — which address mobility, stretching, and strength — and you’ll come away with a little home physio corner that both inspires you to take corrective measures and makes it easy and accessible.
Make up for immobility
Hours of sitting can cause various problems, but a big one is lack of movement. Sure, you might jiggle your knees a bit or bounce in your chair, but you’re unlikely to be putting your joints through any significant range of motion during your workday. When you have a chance to take a break, pull out one of these movement tools.
Keep building strength
More and more research is supporting the importance to building strength, especially as we age. Desk workers are particularly prone to the aches and pains, and worse, that come from our modern sedentary lifestyles, so nip that deconditioning in the bud with some time- and space-saving options that provide resistance to build muscle, improve joint mobility, and generally reduce the impacts of sitting at a desk all week.
Take time to stretch
Both stretching and strengthening are important for anyone who sits at a desk all day. This particular posture often results in weak, elongated back muscles and glutes (that’s your bum) and tight hips and thighs. These products take up minimal space and provide an out-sized amount of relief.
When you have to sit
Sometimes there just isn’t time for a stretch or a strength session, and that’s okay! There are still plenty of products that help keep your body (and by extension, your mind) healthy and happy throughout your workday. Give these tools a try right at your desk, whether you’re in a meeting or immersed in a deep-focus session.
