The next time your upper body aches from working all day, consider skipping the massage and heading to the gym to lift weights.
According to a new study, exercise may be able to ease a sore upper body more than some expensive ergonomic interventions or a professional massage.
Ergonomic interventions are designed to make your workspace and equipment better suited for your activities. For example, some companies sell computer keyboards and chairs designed to encourage proper wrist and back placement.
The study, which included more than 2,100 volunteers, examined the effect of exercise on those who suffered from work-related arm, neck, and shoulder pain. Most of the study participants admitted to hunching over their desks for hours on end, or wedging their phone between their ear and shoulder.
Researchers tested a variety of pain-easing options on study participants including ergonomics, exercise, and massage. In the end, a significant number of volunteers noted that they experienced beneficial results from the exercise, but not so much with ergonomic interventions or massages.
Researchers concluded that while there is no guarantee that exercise will alleviate work-related upper body pain for everyone, it is a good place to start. What’s more, in most cases it is cheaper than paying for expensive ergonomic interventions.
If you plan to experiment with upper body exercises to alleviate your pain, be sure to warm up before you hit the weights. Also, remember that when you lift free weights you should be able to control your movements. Do not swing, bounce, and alter your range of motion. If you cannot control the weight, then reduce it. Finally, it’s very important to maintain good posture when lifting weights or doing any other type of strength training. Good posture will not only help you maximize a particular exercise, it will also yield positive effects on your back and abs.
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