Get more relaxed in the office with four short exercises

Regular exercise sessions at work can help prevent poor posture and contribute to better all-round health. Here you will learn how to take time out to relax your neck, arms and back – in your work clothes and without the need for special equipment.
Sitting at the computer all day long can put a lot of strain on your body. Your neck is stiff, your back aches and your arms feel limp. You can use four simple exercises to loosen up your muscles, tendons and joints, enabling you to get through everyday office life in a more relaxed way. The exercises can be done either standing (feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent) or sitting (sitting upright on the front edge of the chair, legs bent at 90 degrees).

Exercise 1

Put your hands on each side of your head and bring the elbows together while tilting the head downwards. Then pull the elbows out and back while raising the upper body back into an upright position. Repeat five to ten times.

Exercise 2

Adopt the "double-chin pose" and lengthen your neck as if a string is pulling upwards from the back of your head. The jaw remains relaxed. Hold this position for up to ten seconds, then slowly bring the head forward again. Repeat three to five times.

Extra tip: When working at a PC, use the "double-chin pose" repeatedly to ensure that your neck stays long.

Exercise 3

Tilt the head to the left and stretch the right arm down towards the floor until you feel a pulling sensation. Hold this position for 20-30 seconds, then switch sides. Repeat three times per side.

Exercise 4

Rotate your shoulders forwards. Repeat five to ten times. Then rotate your shoulders backwards. Repeat five to ten times.

As a rule you should try to keep moving. Change your position while at the desk as often as possible. It's already a help if you stand up and briefly loosen up while talking on the phone, for example.

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28.07.2021
In the event of further health-related questions, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 telemedicine service free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach. SWICA customers can also use the BENECURA medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.