Sunny Health

Many of us city dwellers often experience aches and discomforts in the body from time to time. Aches used to be signs of muscle strains and infections, but these days, they are also telltale signs of lack of activity and poor posture. In fact, body aches and discomforts are no longer signs of age. Even a teenager might complain about backaches due to slouching in front of the computer all day!

While minor aches are usually not life endangering, they do prevent us from sleeping well and affect our moods. If they happen on a day-to-day basis, they can greatly hamper our productivity. Many of these aches are constant reminders to us to get out of that offiice chair and move around. They can be prevented or reduced with in some simple ways.

Lower back pains

The Cause: Tight thigh and hip muscles can cause the lower back to rotate as you stride. Lower back pain is usually triggered by some combination of overuse, muscle strain and injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support the spine. For office workers and students, it can also be a result of not sitting up straight. For students, carrying heavy bags may also cause strains in the lower back muscles.

The Fix: Correct your posture. Make sure you're sitting up straight as you lean against the back of a chair. You may consider putting a small cushion behind you to support your lower back. Do not carry heavy things or bend over suddenly as you may risk putting further strain on your back. Students should look into excluding unnecessary books, or using a pull-along bag if the need arises. If your back hurts acutely, do see a doctor.

Swollen fingers

The Cause: Swelling is often the result of fluid buildup in a particular region. Swelling can be caused by trauma and strain. As we often use our fingers to do work, the fingers are susceptible to swelling. If you spend a lot of time typing on your keyboard or fiddling with your Nintendo DS, your fingers may be prone to swelling and aches.

The Fix: Make a fist and release several times, stretching your fingers out to help the blood flow properly. Do this regularly and as often as you can. It is a simple exercise that you can squeeze in while watching TV or when out for walks. This can prevent arthritis in the fingers too.

Tingly Feet

The Cause: Too snug shoes and tight calf muscles can restrict blood flow to the toes. If you often sit in one position with your legs bent inward, you may experience that tingly feeling in your feet. If serious, you may even lose sensation of the floor, which can be a rather alarming experience, and dangerous when trying to stand up.

The Fix: Don't wear shoes that are too tight. Make sure you can fit one finger in the back of your shoe. At the office, leave your narrow pumps under your table and wear comfortable flip flops. Swinging your feet around should usually shake some sensation into your feet, but if it is not effective, you can stand with the balls of your feet on a rolled-up towel, keeping your heels on the ground. Then lean forward to loosen up tight muscles. Above all, do not sit in one position for too long. You should get up, walk around and wriggle your toes a little every half an hour.

Sore Knees

The Cause: Apart from obvious causes like straining your knees while climbing stairs or carrying heavy things, poor posture counts too. If you often lean your upper body forward while walking, you tend to place more stress on your knees.

The fix: Straighten up when you walk, avoid slouching. Your head and shoulders should be parallel to your hips.

If left unchecked, sore muscles can lead to muscle imbalances and dysfunctional movements. If aches and pains are prolongued, or acute, they may be red flags to serious injuries, illness or disease. Do not hesitate to visit the doctor if these aches and pains are making themselves felt. Problems are often more easily rectified when detected early!