Friday Osteo Life Hacks (feat. Towels?!)

Before you try and say, ‘But Rachel, I am not an interstellar hitchhiker or even a big nerd like yourself’, hold up. A towel is still probably the most useful DIY tool that anyone can have, when it comes to good posture and helping out that niggling shoulder tension.

Let me explain.

When you do repetitive tasks with your hands in front of you (eg. computer work, driving, sick guitar solos) you tend to disrupt the balance between the muscles at the front of your body and the back. Over time, this drag to the front can start to cause pain and headaches as the body tries to compensate for the position it is in, particularly in the upper back and neck regions. Some call this ‘desk disease’, but really it applies to any job or task that pulls you forwards.

‘HELP. THIS IS ME!’ I hear you cry. I hear you. It is me too.

The answer to this kind of pattern is very logical. If you are being pulled forwards, we need to reset the balance and bring you back to your body’s equilibrium. We need to stretch out the front and add some strength to the back. You should head along to your favourite local Osteopath (hi!) and get some help with movement, pain relief and strengthening exercises soon.

In the meantime, grab that towel!

Fold it in half, and then half again. Roll it up so it is now a firm cyclinder shape.