Seated Leg Exercises to Do at Your Desk

You may not always have the opportunity to get up and move around when you spend a great deal of your workday at a desk. Even if you work from home, you may get too wrapped up in your work to get up and take a break. You can get in a few moves right from your chair with seated leg exercises to do at your desk.

These subtle seated exercises can help keep your legs toned while you work. Each exercise can be done in about a minute or less. Do these leg exercises from your chair right at your desk and save your break for other tasks.

If you have lower back problems, you may not want to try these exercises without speaking with your doctor for modifications. Also, if you feel any lower back pain or strain, be sure you are using your abdominal muscles. If this continues, stop these exercises and speak with your doctor for ways to strengthen your back.

Seated Bent Leg Raises. This exercise will work your upper legs, rear, abs and lower back. Try not to put too much weight on your arms. You should be concentrating on using your upper legs and abs.

Sit close to the edge of your chair. You can either hold on to the seat or put your hands on the edge of the desk for balance. Sitting up straight and pull in your abs as you inhale. Lift both legs just a couple inches off the floor as you exhale slowly, holding for just a couple of seconds.. Inhale as you slowly lower your legs, but be sure not to let your feet rest fully on the floor. Repeat for up to a minute.

Seated Calf Raises. This is more like a stretch for your calves when done in the seated position. But the longer the motion, the more workout your calves will get.

I prefer to sit closer to the edge of my chair for this exercise. Start with your feet flat on the floor. Using the balls of your feet, push your heel up slowly as high as it will go then lower your heel back toward the ground without letting it touch the floor. Keep repeating for as long as you're comfortable with it.

Seated Leg Raises. This exercise works your legs and to a smaller extent your rear and abs. Be sure to keep your abs tight while doing this exercise.

Begin the same as you would for the seated bent leg raises, above. When exhaling, instead of lifting your legs while bent, raise your feet forward and up until your legs are straight. Be sure not to lock at the knees. Hold for a couple seconds. Inhale as you slowly lower your legs. Without letting your feet touch the floor, repeat.

Seated Leg Exercises to Do at Your Desk. Sitting at a desk for work doesn't mean you can't fit some of your daily exercises in. You can easily fit in ten minutes or more of exercise in one-minute increments with these seated leg exercises to do at your desk.

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