An aching back or stiffness from repetitive movements can make working on cargo ship or offshore platform painful. That’s why it’s important to introduce stretching into your daily routine to improve your flexibility.
Improved flexibility does an important thing for your body. It allows you to bend and twist and accomplish your tasks without the need to reach for pain relief medication. It doesn’t matter whether your work aboard a ship, offshore platform or rig requires you to sit at a desk or manoeuvre around tight spaces. A simple stretching routine that takes between 10 and 15 minutes can make your body happy and perhaps reduce the risk of injury. While stretching isn’t a part of the package that Global Catering Canada offers as a part of its victualling and marine catering service, we do understand that a healthy crew means a crew that’s free of injury. At Global Catering, we handle health and hygiene in the kitchen, allowing ship management to focus on business. A shipping crew that stretches might be less prone to injury, helping business to run smooth. Why should you stretch?Maintaining your body’s regular range of motion becomes more and more difficult as you age. And in the shipping industry, aching muscles can limit your ability to do your job safely and effectively. Having healthy workers is a must for ship management and that’s why doing a few basic stretches before, during and even after work can help.
It’s natural. Have you ever noticed that when your body tires of one position or a repeated motion, you tend to stretch out in order to relieve some tension? Stretching elongates your muscles, making them more flexible. But stretching won’t help you grow another couples inches or anything. It’s mostly about limiting soreness and keeping everything in working order. Be careful when stretchingWhile it’s important to stretch, it’s also necessary to be cautious. You can injure yourself or aggravate an injury by overdoing your stretching routine. The best advice. as given by health and fitness experts, is to stretch using “regular and gentle movements that don’t harm your body.
5 stretches for your back and neck-
Get down on the ground, with your back on the floor and your feet flat against the ground. Use both your hands to pull one knee towards your chest. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Release the knee and then repeat the exercise with the other knee. Once you’ve done that, pull both knees to your chest at one time. Repeat the cycle two or three times.
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Start in the same position as the stretch above, with your feet and back on the ground and your shoulders on the floor. Now roll your bent knees toward one side. Hold for five to 10 seconds and then return to the starting position. Repeat the stretch on the other side. Complete two to three repetitions.
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Take a seat on a chair without arms or a stool or stand. Keep your back straight. Now squeeze your shoulder blades together from the back. Hold the position for five to 10 seconds and then release. Do this stretch two or three times.
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Sit on a chair, with your feet planted on the ground. Tilt your head to the left and hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat in the other direction. Complete two to three repetitions on each side.
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Sit on a chair, with your feet planted on the ground and your arms at your sides. While maintaining good posture, tilt your head down and hold for up to 20 seconds. Release and gently return your head to the starting position. Repeat the exercise two or three times.
Always remember that you should consult a physician before doing any exercise and remember not to overexert yourself. Regular stretching can keep your body limber and chase away pains associated with working in the maritime shipping industry.