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I have one bit of specialized weight training advice. We all spend entirely too much time in front of our computers, typically hunched or slouched back, deep i
by georgieporgie 16y ago
I have one bit of specialized weight training advice. We all spend entirely too much time in front of our computers, typically hunched or slouched back, deep in thought.
Ten years of doing this professionally led to shoulder/neck problems, culminating in a pinched nerve between my C6 and C7 vertebrae. It improved with physical therapy, but was never truly fixed, and has bothered me off and on for two years now, despite my adherence to the therapist's rubber band and stretching routine.
I heard through a relative about "Upper Cross Syndrome". Whether that's specifically what I have or not, I don't know, but the symptoms match quite well. Read about it, and you'll probably see that it perfectly describes so many tech people:
http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/Avoid_upper_cross_syndrome_and_maintain_rotator_cuff_stability.htm http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/Avoid_upper_cross_syn...
Exercise 6, "External rotation top to bottom" has literally changed my life, and it did so within the first week. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I maintain proper posture at the keyboard (and while walking around). I still get nerve issues if I spend too many days in a row at the computer, but I can't describe to you how much better I feel now than I did after physical therapy!
- jobu 16y agoThanks for the link. I recently injured my neck (c5-c6 and c6-c7), and the physical therapist has suggested a few exercises, but was unable to explain the purpose or benefit of them.
- DTrejo 16y agoThere's also a graphic further down in the article about how to prevent various injuries (search 'kevin brown'): http://www.mensjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/picture-81.jpg http://www.mensjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/picture-81.jpg
- jquery 16y agoGet a stand up desk, or failing that create a makeshift one with cardboard boxes. I started doing that 9 months ago. Now all my back problems are gone. 10% of my company,or roughly 20 people, have since happily switched.
- georgieporgie 16y agoAh, but I have congenital ankle problems which make standing or walking for long periods (or just the wrong movements over a short period) problematic. My life is a balancing act of pain risk. :-) I find that maintaining the posture that my 8th grade typing teacher enforced is solving all of my neck issues. It's just difficult to maintain awareness of posture when I'm concentrating really deeply on a bit of code or documentation. Weight training helps me overcome the changes to my musculature that occurred from a lifetime of such computer use.
- jquery 16y agoAh, I'm sorry to hear that. Keeping your posture when sitting helps a lot too, but I understand it is hard when you're deep in thought.
- georgieporgie 16y agoHow about with a stand-up desk? Do you find yourself slacking off with regards to posture? Of course, it may not be a problem for you regardless, if your issues were more related to, say, lower back pain. Incidentally, my sister, who is obese, wants to take your plan one step further by going to the treadmill desk. I'm told that there is no problem interacting with stationary desk items after a period of adjustment.
- jquery 16y agoSometimes I slack off, but overall it's been a lot better for my back than my habits when sitting. I find the idea of a treadmill desk very interesting. I bet that would really help lose weight and keep one in shape.
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