Sitting at a screen for too long? Here are 3 Pilates exercises to alleviate neck pain that work.

It’s an all too common scenario. As you tap or swipe away, absorbed in what you are doing, you begin to slouch, your upper back starts to hunch, and the head leans forward to meet your screen. Ultimately, slouching creates a shift in your centre of gravity which then creates knock-on effects like those above, that will eventually result in pain or discomfort.

Humans were designed to be upright, mostly moving. When we sit for long periods of time muscles that normally hold us upright first weaken, then tighten. For every inch that your head travels forward from your centre of gravity, you add an extra 10 pounds of force on your neck. The muscles at the back of your neck start to lengthen and have to work over-time to hold your head up, while the muscles in the front of your neck go AWOL. The same applies from prolonged sitting and inactivity to the muscles around your back and core.