Feeling stiff after a day at your desk? A physical therapist recommends these four stretches to help you bounce back

A woman in an office performs a leg stretch. She is in jeans, a blouse and sneakers. Her left leg is on the floor and her right leg is on a desk straight in front of her. She leans over her right leg and holds her toes with her right hand. Behind her we see a whiteboard with post-its and a plant. In front of her are a desk, desk chairs and a laptop. .

After a day at the desk, you might notice aches and pains in your back, shoulders and hips. If you stand up and try to touch your toes, you might also find that the muscles running along the back of your thighs (your hamstrings) feel pretty tight too.

"Prolonged sitting or long periods of inactivity can lead to tightness as the hamstrings remain in a shortened state. They can get tighter the more you sit," explains Dr Milica McDowell, a doctor of physical therapy and certified physiologist at Gait Happens.