Gold’s Gym has noticed the effect that cell phones have had on our health – and not the radiation/cancer kind – and has responded in kind. Whether we realize it or not, the fact that we’re cranking out more e-mails, SMS and status updates than ever on our smartphones means we’re susceptible to repetitive stress injuries. So who better than a popular and well-known gym to help alleviate our stresses?
Here are the exercises suggested by Gold’s Gym to overcome or avoid injuries that might be caused by our sedentary lifestyles:
DO AT YOUR DESK
- Thumbells: Tap each finger with the thumb of the same hand. Repeat five times.
- Palm Twists: Alternate tapping the palm of your hand and the back of your hand against your thigh as quickly as you can. Repeat 20 times.
- Reverse Hand Crunch: Open your hands, and spread your fingers as far apart as possible. Hold for 10 seconds, and repeat eight times.
ON THE GO
- Lift your head, eyes looking forward, to interrupt looking down as you use the smartphone or similar handheld device.
- Shrug your shoulders and perform shoulder rolls to keep your shoulders, neck and upper back muscles relaxed.
AT THE GYM
- Lower Back Extensions (a.k.a. Superman) – 3 sets of 10
- Grab a stability ball and balance on it with your stomach on top and your toes on the ground. Let your torso fall over the ball, and relax your arms by your sides. Starting with your head and upper back, slowly lift your spine until it’s straight. Slowly return to start. This move will strengthen your lower back, helping you to stand up straight.
- Romanian Deadlift With Upright Row – 3 sets of 10 to 12
- Stand upright, your feet shoulder-width apart. Hold dumbbells in front of your thighs as you lower them, keeping your back straight and your chest out. Then lift up the dumbbells almost to your chin, with your bent arms parallel to the ground. Slowly return to starting position.
Pretty nifty stuff if you find your neck, wrists or back become sore or painful due to the overwhelming use that our mobile devices see every single day.
For more details, check out the next page and see some of the staggering info regarding mobile phone usage as it relates to our repetitive stress injuries.