Exercises for the office

Office exercises

Ergonomic exercises for the office are a topic of growing interest—and for very good reason! In fact, there are more and more workplaces in Denmark where employees suffer from work-related pain. Many of these pain issues are caused by a lack of physical activity, as well as too many repetitive and static movements without variation. The consequences of sedentary work can very often include pain in the shoulders, neck, and lower back, as well as stiffness in the joints.

The human body is designed to move throughout the day—not to sit still at a desk for 8 hours a day. That’s why ergonomic exercises are an incredibly useful tool that can alleviate and prevent many of the aches and injuries associated with office work.

In addition to the fact that ergonomic exercises in the workplace can help employees avoid work-related pain, there are also other clear benefits to taking exercise breaks during work hours and focusing on office exercises. When you move and do ergonomic exercises, your brain also gets a mental break, which means you’re subsequently “recharged” and can work more effectively. Therefore, every company should consider implementing ergonomic exercises in the workplace—not only for the sake of employees, but also to increase workplace efficiency.

Office exercises don’t have to take very long—in fact, just 5 minutes of ergonomic exercises a day can make a huge difference to your body’s functionality, both in the short and long term. Mobility exercises can therefore be done during a break and used as a way to improve your health—both physically and mentally. Ergonomic exercises and break workouts can be performed individually as well as in groups with colleagues. Many exercises can be done without any equipment at all—others can be done with resistance bands.

At Acture, we conduct ergonomic assessments of workstations at companies, and we always provide resistance bands and accompanying exercise programs. These exercise programs and guides have been carefully designed and ergonomically tailored for workplace training, with varying levels of difficulty. In practical terms, these office exercises are very easy to use, as they require little space, time, or equipment.

A good way to incorporate and maintain exercise breaks at work is to always keep some resistance bands out and ready to use whenever the need for movement arises. It can be a good idea to schedule short breaks for office exercises throughout the day, or to set specific times with colleagues. This way, ergonomic exercises for the office can serve as a much-needed break from a day spent in front of the screen, as well as a great way to engage in some fun and social activities with your colleagues.