Did you know?

Aerobic exercise increases blood supply to muscles, tendons, and ligaments and allows for pumping and drainage of stagnant lymphatic tissue.

Exercises you can do at your desk

Here are some exercises you can do at your desk during rest breaks. You need not to do all of them and the order in which you do them does not matter. Each exercise results in feeling some stretch. Hold each stretch 15 to 30 seconds and repeat three times. The number of repetitions and duration of each exercise are guidelines. BE SURE that, as you do the exercises, you feel only a gentle stretch and no pain. If you begin to feel pain, reduce the number of repetitions, shorten the time you hold the position, or do not do the exercise. If you have any questions about whether or not these stretches are appropriate for you, plese ask your doctor.

• Hold both hands out in front of you and stretch them for a few seconds, splaying the fingers until you feel a gentle stretch.

  

• Hold both hands out in front of you and curl your fingers and thumbs under at the first knuckle.

  

• With your arms out straight in front of you, raise your right hand so your palm is facing away from you and place the palm of the left hand on the fingers of the right. Press the fingers toward you with the left hand until you feel a gentle stretch. Change hands and repeat.

  

• With your arms out straight in front of you, drop the right hand down and bend at the wrist. Place the left hand on the knuckles of the right and press toward you until you feel a gentle stretch in the top of the wrist of the right hand. Change hands and repeat.

  

• Hold your right hand in front of you, palm up, and use your left hand to massage your right. Massage the inside and outside of the hand and between the fingers. Change hands and repeat.

  

• With your arms straight in front of you, lace your fingers together. Then turn your hands down and over so your palms are facing away from you and press until your arms are straight.

  

Raise your arms over your head and lace your fingers together. Then turn your wrists so that your palms face toward the ceiling and lift your arms straight above you until you feel a gentle stretch.
Wrap one arm around you, resting the wrist on the opposite shoulder. Place the palm of the other hand on the elbow, press gently towards you and hold for a few seconds to feel a gentle stretch. Repeat on the other side.
Raise your right arm above your head, then bend at the elbow so that your right hand is behind your head. Place your left hand on your right elbow and gently pull your right elbow behind your head until you feel a stretch. Repeat on the other side.
Tilt your head forward and hold for a few seconds until you feel a gentle stretch in the back of your neck.
Tilt your head back and hold for a few seconds until you feel a gentle stretch in your throat.
Tilt your head to one side and hold for a few seconds until you feel a stretch in the side of your neck. Repeat on the other side.