If you are not sitting correctly at work for long periods of time you run the risk of back, shoulder and neck pain. This is caused by damage to your muscles and joints and then if you continue with this poor posture – and no adjustment it’s only going to get worse. In addition to pain from incorrect seating posture, with too much computer use you can also develop eyestrain and injuries from overuse of your wrists and hands – as well as headaches.
At Hawthorne Chiropractic we are faced with the outcome of poor posture while sitting for too long with clients complaining of low back ache, headaches and stiff necks. Luckily we can help you not only with reducing the pain by adjusting you but also by advising you on how to prevent this problem from happening again.
How to avoid pain at work…
You need to ensure that you are provided with a workstation that is properly designed. Many companies (and so they should) now invest in good ergonomic workstations – it has been proven that this leads to less muscle and joint injuries and also improves productivity.
You should also have an ergonomic chair that provides adequate support. Ergonomic chairs are designed specifically to help your spine maintain its natural curve. When sitting on the chair your feet should rest flat on the floor. You may need a foot stool in oder to achieve this. Using an ergonomic chair and sitting in the right position will keep your vertebrae aligned which will reduce the possibilities of you developing musculoskeletal disorders in your back. You need to take regular rest breaks – every two hours if you don’t have injuries and every half an hour if you are experiencing back pain. In addition you should do some stretching exercises as part of your daily routine at work – and even at home.
You need to develop better posture when seated. Even in a sitting position your body is working to maintain that position. Sitting for long periods while not requiring as much muscular effort as standing still causes physical fatigue. By sitting in the right position you will reduce the stress on your body. If you are sitting for long periods at work, in the car/train etc on the way to work and on the couch at home – your sitting posture is critical to your health.
Reducing Your Pain…
Developing good posture after years of bad posture, is a habit that needs to be broken and this may take time – but remember if you don’t want work to be a pain (more than it already may be) you need to take a positive attitude and start rectifying this problem. Even if you are not currently in pain at work we recommend that you visit your chiropractor to help you improve your posture; if you are sitting for long periods of time. Remember prevention is always better than cure and that a healthy spine is absolutely vital to the overall function of your body and thus a healthy life. If you are concerned about the possibility of developing back pain as your work involves long periods of sitting working on the computer or if you would like more information on posture you are welcome to come and see us.
At Hawthorne Chiropractic we are very experienced in dealing with postural issues and will often be able to help you – not only if you are in pain but also to ensure that you don’t develop back, neck and other pain associated with poor posture.
Please note too that using laptops are likely to cause more injuries and stress than PCs as the design of these machines does not facilitate usage of them for a long period of time. Basically the keyboard and screen of a laptop are too close together and using laptops your spine is often under even greater stress…
