As a Henleaze osteopath, I wanted to highlight the benefits of micro breaks in Bristol, especially with more and more of my patients working from home in lockdown.
It's been such a difficult 12 months, and thankfully my Bristol osteopathy clinic is fully open and listed as an essential medical service. Many of my patients are complaining of more aches and pains from working at home during 2021.
Much of this comes down to not keeping the body moving. The body is built for movement, and we have lots of mobile joints in our spine which allow for dynamic mobility. Furthermore, good movement means good overall health.
I recently wrote a News post, outlining how home workers can reduce back pain during lockdown when working from home - read it here. (hyperlink with https://www.alexprinceosteopathy.co.uk/alex-prince-osteopathy-news/bristol-homeworkers-reduce-back-pain-in-lockdown)
With so much of our working lives focused upon sitting down at desks in front of computers, it can be increasingly hard to ensure that our bodies are moving regularly. The solution? Try taking regular micro breaks.
The key is to keep the body moving little and often. Taking a ‘micro break’ which involves getting up every 20 minutes, standing up and moving for 30 seconds. It's that simple. Then going back to what you were working on.
Some of the benefits for home-workers taking micro breaks include:
It takes the strain off the lower back and spine when standing up, giving it a break or rest.
The movement lubricates the joints, preventing stiffness and aching
It improves blood flow to postural muscles, reducing postural fatigue
The body warms up through regular movement and blood circulation
Other significant benefits from taking micro breaks include giving the brain a rest, which can improve overall work productivity each day. It will also reduce eye strain by taking regular breaks from a computer screen.
In short, taking micro breaks when working at home can help to keep the body moving, reduce postural strain, and give the body, mind (and eyes) a break, and will improve productivity…try it!
I also offer specific osteopathic treatments for office-based injuries, which are most commonly sustained from sitting at a desk - find out more here.
If you're unsure whether your sitting position is causing you potential strain, pain or even injury, I also offer patients an online-based postural assessment service to identify potential issues. Visit here to find out more.
My Henleaze osteopathy clinic is fully open so if you’re looking for Covid-safe osteopathic treatments during the current lockdown, please read this news post to find out about the measures in place for all of my patients.