If you work at a job that requires you to remain standing for hours on end, you know how uncomfortable it can be. But long periods of standing up doesn’t just hurt your back in the short term. Apollo Chiropractic, your chiropractor in Salt Lake City, knows better than anyone that excessive standing can also have long term health effects. Whether you work on an assembly line or at a cash register, here is everything you need to know about how long periods of standing can affect your body and how you can alleviate the discomfort.
Why Is Standing at Work Bad for You?
Standing for long periods of time at work, especially in one position without walking around, poses both short and long term health risks. If you stand a lot at your job, you may be experiencing pain and fatigue in your neck, back, legs, and feet. This is because these are the locations of your body that have the muscles responsible for keeping you in an upright position. Over time, excessive standing can lead to chronic back pain, rheumatic diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, degeneration of ligaments and tendons, and more.
How Can You Relieve Pain from Standing?
One of the best ways you can counteract the discomfort that stays with you even when your shift is over is by stretching.
Start by laying on the floor on your back. Draw your right knee up to your chest, and then cross it over to the left side of your body. You can use your left hand to gently hold your knee in place. Stretch your right hand out to the right side and look toward it. Holding in this twist position for 30 seconds and then repeating on the other side will help relieve tension in your lower back.
This next easy stretch starts with finding a chair. Lie on the floor on your back with your bottom and the backs of your thighs pressed against the front of the chair. The rest of your legs should be resting on the seat of the chair, creating a 90 degree angle at your knees. Put a tension band around your thighs and hold the position for 15 to 20 minutes. If you don’t have a tension band, you can use a scarf or a belt. Resting in this position will help to realign your hips and spine after a long day of standing at work.
In addition to stretching, you can also do exercises to strengthen the muscles that help you stand, building up your endurance so that you can stand longer with less pain. Good strengthening exercises for standing include lunges, planks, and squats.
How Can Chiropractic Adjustment in Salt Lake City Help?
If your pain from standing at work is becoming too much for you to manage on your own, Apollo Chiropractic can help. We offer chiropractic adjustment in Salt Lake City that helps with back pain, neck pain, and more. Our doctors will work with you to find the right treatment for your pain, from spinal adjustment to massage therapy.