If you spend a good portion of your days (at least some days) seated at a desk, as I do, you might be feeling the strain: between your shoulders, in your lower back, and in your hips, just to hit three commonly-affected areas.

The human body simply wasn’t designed for long hours sitting down – we’re meant to move, and to move often. But the job requires computer work, and that can’t be helped.

So what’s a solo to do? Stretch — right at your desk. No need for a special exercise class (though, if you get Fit TV, and happen to run across an episode of All Star Workouts entitled “Stretch Fusion,” do your poor body a favor and tape that sucker for a weekly playback).

Here’s a newsletter article from SixWise that mentions nine stretches you can do in your office to relieve the strain and pressure that arise from protracted period of sitting down.

I try to take a five-minute stretch break every hour on the hour. You can even download alarm software that reminds you to take that break (WorkRave is free, runs on Windows or Linux machines; Break Reminder has free and $60 versions but only works on Windows, and is a bit more sophisticated; RSI Warrior is midpriced at $30 and features suggested stretches demonstrated through graphic images).

Don’t let your workload create a stiff and unbending body — take a stretch break and see how much more energized you feel when you return to work!