Ihave often been told that pain is just a part of life. Some days I find this to be true.
Pain relief specialist Dr. Nicolas Campos writes, “I have come to learn the enormous benefits of stretching for health. A regular stretching routine can not only relieve pain, but it can prevent pain from becoming cyclic.” When I read that stretching can help to relieve and prevent pain, I thought, “Of course it can, but who has the time?”
While these stretches would never take the place of medical advice from a doctor, I will definitely be giving them a shot. Whether I’m at home, at work, or sitting on a park bench, I can do these extremely easy stretches to help relieve whatever part of my body is aching!
Special thanks to Maya Borenstein for these amazing images.
Make sure to scroll through until you find the area of your body where you are experiencing pain. And please SHARE if you find these amazingly simple seated stretches as helpful as I do.
Relieve Pain In Your LOWER BACK!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Lower back pain is extremely common and can be completely
debilitating. Luckily, this stretch is perfect for loosening up the muscle
or relieving minor soreness. If you’re at home, sure there are plenty of
stretches you could do on the floor, but this one is good for wherever
you are!
- Sit forward in your chair.
- Bring one knee into your chest using your hands to grasp the back
of your thigh.
- Pull the thigh gently towards your body.
- Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
- Slowly release your leg back to the floor.
- Do the same thing with the other leg.
Tip: Try to keep your back as straight as possible with your other foot
firmly on the floor.
Please SHARE if you plan to try this extremely simple lower back
stretch!
Relieve Pain In Your SHOULDERS!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Shoulder soreness can be caused by a lot of different things. Whether
you hold a lot of tension here or you tweaked the muscle while lifting
something heavy, this easy stretch should help to loosen you up.
You can do this shoulder stretch virtually anywhere, from the back
seat of a car to an elevator!
- Take a very deep breath in while shrugging your shoulders up
towards your ears.
- Hold this position for three seconds.
- Slowly exhale while you release your shoulders back to their starting
position.
- Repeat this 10 times.
Tip: When lowering your shoulders back down, try to imagine your
shoulder blades lowering towards the floor as well.
Please SHARE if you plan to try this extremely simple shoulder stretch!
Relieve Pain In Your FEET!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Foot pain can be extremely common, especially if you are someone who spends
a lot of time standing or walking all day. Perhaps nothing beats a good old fashioned foot massage, but finding someone to rub your feet may be easier
said than done. Fortunately, this stretch is one that you can do seated or
standing, wherever you may happen to be!
- Place one foot in front of the other.
- With your back foot, tuck your foot under so the top portion of your toes
is against the floor.
- Gently apply pressure until you feel the stretch running along the top of
the foot.
- Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
- Slowly release your foot back to the starting position.
- Swap foot positions and do the same thing with the other foot.
Tip: You may not always be able to take your shoes off, but if you can this
stretch will be much more effective.
Relieve Pain In Your WRISTS!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Wrist pain can have many causes and is especially rampant among people who
type or use a computer all day. Luckily, wherever you are, you can immediately do this simple stretch to give your wrists some much need love!
- Clench both of your hands into fists.
- Stretch your two fists out in front of you.
- Make circles in the air with your wrists.
- Circle both wrists 10 times to the right.
- Circle both wrists 10 times to the left.
Tip: Keep your forearms straight and try to face your knuckles as far to the
ceiling and the floor as you can in order to increase the stretch.
Please SHARE if you plan to try this extremely simple wrist stretch!
Relieve Pain In Your CHEST MUSCLES!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Chest pain that is internal can be extremely serious and should always result
in medical attention. However, if your chest muscles are feeling sore, this is an
easy stretch you can do to loosen things up. You can do this stretch sitting in
the comfort of your office chair or on your couch!
- Place your hands behind your head, keeping your elbows out like wings.
- Reach your elbows towards the back wall while squeezing your shoulder
blades together.
- Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
- Slowly return your elbows back to the starting position.
Tip: It is very important to breathe throughout the stretch, as holding your
breath can actually increase tension!
Please SHARE if you plan to try this extremely simple chest muscle stretch!
Relieve Pain In Your HIPS!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Hip pain is extremely common and can make sitting and walking extremely
painful. As with any pain, if your hip pain is chronic, you should definitely visit
your doctor. But for some simple relief to your minor hip aches, this stretch is
very easy to do with the aid of a chair!
- Sit forward at the very edge of your chair.
- Sitting up tall, rotate your torso slightly to your right.
- Take your left leg and extend it as far behind you as you are able.
- Keep your right leg bent in a right angle.
- Lift your chest, while pressing your left hip towards to floor.
- Hold for 30 seconds.
- Slowly release your left leg and return to the starting position.
- Repeat the same thing on the other side.
Tip: For whichever leg is extended behind you, try to keep the knee as straight
as possible to increase the stretch.
Relieve Pain In Your GLUTES!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Glute pain can be a literal pain in the butt. This can be a result of lifting
something heavy or sitting at work for long periods of time. Whatever the
cause, this stretch is an easy one that you can do sitting in your chair!
- Sit forward in your chair.
- Bring your right ankle up onto your left knee.
- Keeping your back straight, lean forward until you feel the stretch in your glutes.
- Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
- Slowly sit back up and release your leg back to the floor.
- Do the same thing with the other leg.
Tip: For an extra stretch, use your hand to apply very gentle pressure to the
knee that is bent on top.
Please SHARE if you plan to try this extremely simple knee stretch!
Relieve Pain In Your UPPER/MIDDLE BACK!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Upper and middle back soreness can be just as bad as lower back pain. The
back muscles are so large and complex that they are sometimes the easiest to
injure. Fortunately, this stretch is one that you can do almost anywhere you are by just hugging yourself!
- Give yourself a hug.
- Place your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your
right shoulder.
- Take deep breaths into your back.
- Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
- Slowly release your arms back to your sides.
Tip: To increase the stretch slightly, slowly bend forward while you are in the
hug position. Remember to keep breathing though!
Please SHARE if you plan to try this extremely simple upper/middle back
stretch!
Relieve Pain In Your KNEES!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Knee pain afflicts millions of Americans and often requires attention from a
medical specialist. However, one way to avoid knee pain or to relieve minor
knee soreness is this simple stretch that requires you to simply stand up!
- Sit forward in your chair with your back straight and your feet flat on the
floor.
- Slowly bring yourself to standing, moving slowly and smoothly.
- Remain standing for five seconds.
- Slowly return to sitting, using very controlled movement.
- Repeat this exercise 10 times.
Tip: Make sure that regardless of where you are in the stretch, your knees
don’t ever extend beyond your toes.
Please SHARE if you plan to try this extremely simple knee stretch!
Relieve Pain In Your NECK!
LittleThings / Maya Borenstein
Neck pain can definitely be…well, a pain in the neck. Luckily, the neck is one
of the easiest parts of the body to stretch. If you have someone to massage your neck, start there. But if not, or if you are in between massages, this simple
stretch will help to relieve the tightness in your neck, no matter where you are!
- Sit forward in your chair with a straight back and your feet flat on the
floor.
- Tilt your head to one side, bringing the ear towards the shoulder until you
feel a stretch.
- Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
- Slowly release your head back to the middle.
- Do the same thing on the other side.
Tip: For an added stretch, use your hand to gently pull your head further into
the stretch. Remember to always be gentle.
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