Office workers can find muscles and joints seize up after long hours at their desks. An old Thai remedy is the answer

Nothing in the world can be as easy as the life of a university student.

If you get bored in class, you can have a little chat with friends. If you feel stressed with the subject, you can ask for a toilet break and go for a little walk and a stretch.

But what about the real world of employment, when a boss may be watching every move you make? A little chat or a walk around the office could be interpreted as laziness.

To avoid these problems at work, some rookies may decide to glue themselves in front of a computer for six to eight hours. But did you know that sitting at a desk for such a long period can lead to what doctors call "office syndrome"?

What is office syndrome?

Office syndrome often occurs in people who sit in the same position for a long time, typically office workers. The symptoms are aches and pains in your back, shoulders, neck and arms, and sometimes your wrists can "lock".

How do you avoid the problem or relieve the symptoms?

The easiest way to avoid office syndrome is to change your posture frequently while in the office. Go to the toilet, walk to a fax machine or a photocopier to collect your documents. And then there's rue sii dad ton, a Thai traditional body stretch.

If you are too busy - or too lazy - to pull yourself away from the computer, you should try rue sii dad ton, which can help you stretch your arms, back, neck and shoulders while sitting in your office chair.

XTRA

>> Step one: Sit in your normal position, hands clasped at your xiphoid (the cartilage at the bottom of your sternum, or breastbone).

>> Step two: Breathe in and push your palms to the left as far as you can. Keep looking to the front, back straight. Hold your breath.  Breathe out and return your arms to the central position.

>> Step three: Breathe in and push your palms to the right. Hold it. Breathe out and return your arms to the central position.

>> Step four: Breathe in and push your arms forward. Hold it. Breathe out and pull arms back.

>> Step five: Breathe in push your arms up towards the ceiling. Hold it. Breathe out, lower your arms to your head and then back to the original position. Remember your hands must be clasped, and your back straight at all times.