{"id":717,"date":"2017-12-11T10:46:34","date_gmt":"2017-12-11T16:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/?page_id=717"},"modified":"2023-06-07T08:17:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T13:17:04","slug":"stretches-and-exercises","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/stretches-and-exercises\/","title":{"rendered":"Stretches and Exercises; Postural Awareness"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-modular-content-collection><p>(the following is taken from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.safety.duke.edu\/ergonomics\/stretches-and-exercises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Duke University EHS<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h6>Suggested Stretches and Exercises; Postural Awareness<\/h6>\n<p>Discomfort often occurs when someone works in the same position (or using repetitive motions) for most of the workday. Short stretch breaks and performed throughout the day can help prevent and reduce this discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- begin-migrated-from-panel-builder -->\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"site-section site-panel__tabs panel panel-tabs site-section__bg--default\"\n\t\t\tdata-depth=\"\"\n\t\t\tdata-js-panel=\"tabs\"\n\t\t>\n\t\n\t\t<div class=\"site-section__inner\" data-js=\"tabs\">\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"site-panel__tablist\" data-js=\"tab-list\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"site-panel__tab-item\" role=\"presentation\" data-js=\"tab-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"site-panel__tab-btn site-panel__tab-btn--active\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-js=\"site-panel__tab\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-target=\"site-panel__tab-content-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"site-panel__tab-content-1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"u-visual-hide\">Show<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuggested Stretches &#038; Quick Exercises\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"u-visual-hide\">Content<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"site-panel__tab-item\" role=\"presentation\" data-js=\"tab-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"site-panel__tab-btn  \"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-js=\"site-panel__tab\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-target=\"site-panel__tab-content-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"site-panel__tab-content-2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"u-visual-hide\">Show<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPostural Awareness\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"u-visual-hide\">Content<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-panel__tab-content-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"site-panel__tab-content-1\" class=\"site-panel__tab-content site-panel__tab-content--active\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"panel panel-child panel--type-wysiwyg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-section site-panel__wysiwyg panel panel-wysiwyg site-section__bg--default\" data-depth=\"1\" data-js-panel=\"wysiwyg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-section__inner l-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-section__content \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-grid site-grid__wrapper site-grid__wrapper-stagger\" data-depth=\"0\" data-name=\"columns\" data-livetext>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-grid__col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-panel__wysiwyg-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"t-content  site-section \" data-depth=\"0\" data-index=\"0\" data-autop=\"true\" data-name=\"column_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You can perform these movements before, during or after work, especially when working on computers or performing lifting tasks.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.safety.duke.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/Stretches.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suggested Stretches<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.safety.duke.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/Stretches_Handout.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">90 Second Workout Break<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-grid__col -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-grid, .site-grid__wrapper -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-section__content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!--.site-section__inner -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-section -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"site-panel__tab-content-2\" class=\"site-panel__tab-content  \" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"panel panel-child panel--type-wysiwyg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-section site-panel__wysiwyg panel panel-wysiwyg site-section__bg--default\" data-depth=\"1\" data-js-panel=\"wysiwyg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-section__inner l-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-section__content \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-grid site-grid__wrapper site-grid__wrapper-stagger\" data-depth=\"0\" data-name=\"columns\" data-livetext>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-grid__col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"site-panel__wysiwyg-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"t-content  site-section \" data-depth=\"0\" data-index=\"0\" data-autop=\"true\" data-name=\"column_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This information will help you become more aware of the postures you use throughout the day. Often, being aware of your posture can encourage you to avoid poor postures:<\/p>\n<h6>What is postural awareness?<\/h6>\n<p>Our skeleton is designed to hold up our body without spending much energy even with the pull of gravity.\u00a0 If we use poor posture, our muscles have to perform the job of the skeleton.\u00a0 This requires them to burn energy needlessly but more importantly, prevents us from using them in their primary purpose which is to move the body into different positions.\u00a0 When we move, most of us do so inefficiently.\u00a0 This requires greater energy, resulting in excess muscle tension.\u00a0 When this tension stays around for hours or we experience it day after day, we often develop some movement related problem.\u00a0 Our aches and pains restrict us, not only at work but at home, too.<\/p>\n<h6>Why would anyone want to become aware of their posture?<\/h6>\n<p>To alter our inefficient movement we must make an effort to reprogram our nervous system. We can only begin to do this once we become more conscious of our current &#8220;bad&#8221; movement patterns and work on changing them to more efficient ones.\u00a0 The goal is to inhibit the accustomed pattern, then accept a new pattern as habit or second nature.<\/p>\n<p>While you are sitting at your workstation throughout the day, ask yourself, &#8220;Is my jaw clenched?&#8221; &#8220;Is my mouth shut?&#8221; Your muscles have to work to keep your lower jaw up, touching the upper one.\u00a0 The relaxed jaw position is achieved by saying the word &#8220;emma.&#8221;\u00a0 Try to put your jaw in this position.\u00a0 How does this compare to your closed jaw? Is the feeling very different, maybe even uncomfortable?\u00a0 Do you notice any changes to your face, especially your eyes and expression?\u00a0 Return your jaw to the closed position. Do you feel the tension return?<\/p>\n<p>Would you have noticed your clenched jaw without consciously asking yourself?\u00a0 The goal of this program is to develop your sensitivity to muscular effort so you will detect such tension unconsciously and alter it appropriately.\u00a0 Just as a tree will bend in whichever direction the wind blows it, a minimum amount of muscular effort will move your body in any desired direction with ease. \u00a0A slight amount of muscular effort can result in good, upright posture.<\/p>\n<h6>What can I expect?<\/h6>\n<p>Once you become aware of your movements, you will integrate it into a function whether it be sitting at your desk writing or typing at the keyboard.\u00a0 Oftentimes, after just completing a few exercises you may notice a change or increasing awareness of your posture.<\/p>\n<h6>Where do I start?<\/h6>\n<p>A few simple exercises can help you develop and improve your body awareness. \u00a0The focus is on how to move, not on how much to move, how fast to move or how hard to move. \u00a0As each exercise is introduced it is performed repeatedly so your nervous system can start to adapt to the new position.\u00a0 The components of the nervous system that control movement will detect the changes, amplifying and retaining them. \u00a0You will develop increased sensitivity to muscular effort that normally has been concealed from your conscious mind.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;d like more information about postural awareness, including postural exercises, please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/about-ehs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe Udelhofen, EHS Specialist and Training Coordinator<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-grid__col -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-grid, .site-grid__wrapper -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-section__content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!--.site-section__inner -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .site-section -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n<!-- end-migrated-from-panel-builder --><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(the following is taken from\u00a0Duke University EHS) Suggested Stretches and Exercises; Postural Awareness Discomfort often occurs when someone works in the same position (or using repetitive motions) for most of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":156,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-panels-beside-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-717","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/156"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=717"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1180,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/717\/revisions\/1180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/ehs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}