Working in an office has its ups and downs just like any other way of working. It isn’t the best or the worst, but it may be the most popular way one can work. As convenient and comfortable it may seem, spending too much time sitting down in an office has its price. It makes you inactive and prone to various illnesses and conditions. Of course, there are ways to prevent them and this is by staying active during your free time. A gym membership, going to the pool, cycling or any physical activity is more than welcome for preventing these conditions. However, we’ll be focusing on the risks in order for you to know what you’re up against and find the best way to prevent it.

Leg cramps

Cramps are becoming more and more popular among adults. Unfortunately, jobs that involve a lot of standing on our feet or sitting down in the same position make us more prone to leg cramps. Unfortunately, there are no official treatment options for leg cramps, but there are some measures you can take that definitely won’t harm you and can make it better. Since magnesium plays an important role in muscle contraction, magnesium deficiency can also lead to cramping. Having this in mind, taking magnesium tablets regularly may improve your condition and enable the proper functioning of the muscles in your legs. It’s beneficial for other aspects of your health as well, so there are no downsides to this treatment and it can be used as a preventative measure, as well.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

This condition hasn’t been taken seriously for quite a long time, when, in fact, it is a real problem and it’s very widespread among office workers and all people that tend to do many repetitive actions with their hands. It happens when too much pressure is being forced on the median nerve which is the nerve in your wrist that enables movement and feeling to parts of the hand. The symptoms include numbness and tingling, as well as weakness in your hands and fingers. The condition can be treated with physical therapy and even prevented with acupuncture and certain exercises that release muscle tension and it’s best to start them immediately if your job requires a lot of typing or holding your hands in the same position for a long period of time.

Ditching tobacco should also be your priority since smoking is a suspected risk factor for development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Today you can find a good puff bar alternative so you can easily switch to something less harmful.

Lower-back pain

Anyone can have back pain issues and don’t let yourself be mocked for claiming you have problems. Any person that spends several hours a day in a constant sedentary position is extremely eligible for back pain issues. Constantly putting pressure to the same part of your spine is something that definitely isn’t healthy. What is more, it also leads to bad posture and when you combine all these factors, you’re left with a huge potential for having back pain problems which can lead to serious medical issues as well. This is why staying active is important, but not just doing any kind of activity. It’s important to improve your posture and the best way to do it is by swimming, for instance. Also, make an investment in your office chair. Get one of those chairs that are specially made for good posture and against back pain and you’ll see a significant upgrade in your quality of life at work.

Basically, most health problems office workers have stem from their obligation to sit in one position for a long period of time. The best way to prevent or treat these issues is by staying active. However, doing yoga or swimming may be much more beneficial than running or cycling as it’s also important to relax your muscles and do exercises properly. Otherwise, you may cause more harm than good.