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Have you ever felt aches and pains after hours of gaming? Or do you have a desk job that involves sitting at the computer for long periods of time? If the answer to that question is yes then you’re in the right place. Playing video games or sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time can cause problems in your eyes, neck, shoulder, wrist, and back. You can relieve and even prevent the problems caused by this by wearing blue light blocking glasses while you game or work on the computer, and doing a few simple stretches. So if you start to feel tension after playing a game for a while or have a desk job that involves hours on sitting try doing these simple stretches. This will help relieve or prevent any neck, back, wrist, or shoulder pain you may experience while playing video games or during a long workday.
Shoulder Rolls
This exercise can help improve your posture and ease tension in your shoulders and is great to do after sitting for long periods of time. To do this stretch, sit tall with your feet flat on the floor and spread comfortably apart. Next, slowly rotate your shoulders clockwise and then counter-clockwise. You can start with 5 times for each direction, and then slowly increase the count.
Neck Stretch
Doing neck stretch exercises are an effective way to ease tension in your neck and keep the muscles healthy. For this stretch start by relaxing your shoulders then tilt your head to your shoulder but do not bring your shoulders up to your ear. Gently release and repeat this 5 times and hold on the last one for 10 seconds before returning back to the center. Then bend on the other side of the shoulder repeating the same movement.
Bend
To ease tension on your back lift your right arm so that it’s perpendicular to the floor and bend towards your left and hold for a few seconds. Repeat the same movement with your other hand.
Wrist Stretches
Stretch one arm straight in front of you with hands facing palm up. Reach with your other hand and pull the hand straight down at the wrist. Hold for 20 seconds. Then repeat with your other arm. Do this 3 times for each hand.
Active Arm Stretches
Reach above your head and stretch your arms straight up reaching for the ceiling for at least 10 seconds. Next, stretch your right arm higher, then the left.
Cat Claws
Make a tight fist with your hands. Hold it for a second. Then spread your fingers as far apart as you can and repeat.
TMJ Exercise
If you notice your jaw tightening, yawning can be helpful to temporarily relieve tightness. But working your jaw daily can help you feel much better in the long run. Move your jaw from side to side, left to right, six times. And repeat this several times throughout your workday.
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I am not a gamer but I am printing this to have under my keyboard at the office!
That’s great! It’ll come in handy on those long work days. 😀
These are great easy exercising for those of us who spend love hours at the computer. Though I try to get up regularly, sometimes it doesn’t happen – especially while gaming. But being able to do these quick stretches and exercises is perfect.
Same here Sarah. I’ll get wrapped up in computer work or a video game and forget to get up and stretch. So I’ve been making a habit of stretch during loading screens. It’s been helpful with the tension I feel in my neck and wrist.