iVillage logo
Diet & Fitness 
Advertisement
Topics
iVillage shopping

Hot stuff
Newsletters
Sign up for FREE!




 
Promotions
Lose weight today
Get a personal diet plan

Office Syndrome - prevent RSI

by Siobhan Mason
continued from page 3
Phone
Physiotherapists recommend a headset if you use the telephone for more than two hours a day, as wedging the phone between your ear and shoulder can increase your risk of developing back and neck problems. Headsets help you keep your head in line with your spine and reduce muscle tension. They cost from £80 upwards at Back2. In the meantime, change your phone from ear to ear during long calls.

Take a break
'If you've got a static posture, you're not keeping the blood flowing so tendons inflame and seize up,' says Chadwick. 'When people ask me what posture is best for working, I say - the next one.' So even if your office is set up perfectly, it's still important to take regular breaks. Ideally, you should try to arrange your work so you achieve a mix of sitting still and moving around. You should also take 'micro breaks' - that is, stop working for a second every minute and drop your shoulders to let go of tension.

Exercise
Any type of exercise that improves your posture will minimise the chances of developing RSI. The Alexander Technique teaches you exercises specifically designed to undo all your bad postural habits that you've developed over the years. For details of your nearest teachers, see the website for the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique at www.stat.org.uk. Other posture promoting exercises such as yoga and Pilates can also help.



 previous 1 |  2 |  3 |  4 |  5 next print printer friendly send to a friend
  
RATE IT
Loading ....
Loading ....
Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon
iVillage Features

iVillage Competitions

Playhouse Disney Competition


Message Boards