Are you stuck in a cubicle all day? Have you wondered how does working a desk job affect your running? We’ve got the answers for you, and it might not be what you want to hear.
How does a desk job affect your running?
Are there any practical or physical skills that you practice 6-8 hours a day? You might not think so, but it’s likely that you practice sitting, every day at work. Your body adjusts over time to sitting for extended periods, but here’s the bad news: sitting almost completely neglects the muscle groups used for running. How does working a desk job affect your running? By weakening these muscles through a lack of use.
You might be thinking that running a few times a week is enough to counteract it, but it’s really not. How can even 10 hours of running a week compare to the 40 + spent in a seated position? You may experience knee, joint or back pain while running and attribute it to the run, when in fact, it’s the time spent sitting that’s set you up for the damage. It’s not just your glutes, hamstrings and hip flexors that suffer from sitting all day. There are a lot of smaller muscle groups that support your knees that also atrophy from disuse.
Some remedies
It’s a bleak picture but it’s unlikely that you can quit your job to improve your running condition, so here are some ways you can mitigate the damage of how does working a desk job affect your running.
- Stand up more often. Set an alarm to get up every hour and walk for 5 minutes,
- Go for a walk or even a run during your lunch break,
- Walk every time you’re on the phone,
- Schedule walking meetings, and use a restroom that’s further from your desk,
- Investigate if a standing work station would suit your office situation.
Don’t compound the issue by sitting on the sofa when you get home from work. Try sitting on the floor or stretching out in a different position. Better yet, take an evening walk or engage in some other, unseated activity. The extra movement may help you see a reduction in running injuries over time.
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Whilst Enertor has over 18 years Orthotics experience, our blog content is provided for informational purposes only and it is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical advice. Enertor advises anyone with an injury to seek their own medical advice – and do not make any health or medical related decisions based solely on information found on this site.
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