Think about it – you’ve been sitting around a lot more in recent months than you ever did previously, haven’t you? Whether you are working from home or unemployed and Netflix-binging, no one is getting as much movement as they did pre-pandemic.
There is a potential for lots of injuries once people spend a year sitting, especially back injuries. If you are already starting to feel new muscle pain that means you have developed weakness in other muscles, and getting back to a moderate level of activity can prevent further damage.
No matter what your schedule looks like, stop right now and figure out how to work more physical activity into your daily routine.
Schedules Work Wonders
The biggest reason people are struggling to maintain their health and well-being right now is that the typical schedules that keep us on track basically disappeared overnight, and we are a lot more dependent on schedules than we would like to admit.
People have been having a lot of difficulties with sleeping, too. Nightmares and especially vivid dreams have been causing some sleep disturbances, but the biggest culprit is the lack of a schedule.
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day goes a long way toward ensuring you get high quality sleep and taking better care of yourself, especially during the pandemic.
Schedules can also go a long way toward helping you maintain your overall health and well-being. Schedule your breaks to go for a walk around the block and set an alarm to get up and stretch at least once an hour.
In the evening schedule a longer walk or a more strenuous workout, and try some yoga or meditation before bed to keep connected with your body’s needs and signals.
Some Muscle Pain Requires Medical Intervention
Unfortunately, if you aren’t taking care of your physical well-being for months on end, eventually that pain and weakness is going to require intervention from a physical therapist.
Pain generally means there is weakness elsewhere and that the muscles that are in pain are compensating for that weakness. That’s why maintaining a baseline level of physical activity is so crucial – it prevents weakness from becoming injuries.
If you can avoid sitting a lot that will go a long way. Look into a standing desk and try to spend at least a quarter of your day standing instead of sitting. At the very least this will give your lower back a break.
Workplace pain is a leading cause of injuries across the world, and repetitive motions and lack of varied movements are a major culprit. Trauma, stress and strain, and overuse can lead to serious problems in the long run.
Even minor injuries can lead to long term issues if not treated properly. During this pandemic the minor strain of sitting too much can lead to a second pandemic of people with all kinds of serious long-term injuries.
It’s time to take control of your daily life and ensure you are getting enough physical activity to stave off serious injury during the pandemic. Learn more about muscle pain, weakness, and how to fix workplace injuries from the infographic below.
