Here’s a blog post written for you by our Physiotherapist Pete, on ways to manage aches and pains if you’re an office worker…
===
Do you work in a office based job?
Do you find yourself Struggling with neck, shoulder or back pain after sitting for long periods of time?
Wish there was something you could do to reduce the pain?
Well there is a solution to create a more safe, healthy and comfortable working environment for you, so you don’t have to put up with annoying aches and pains.
Let’s start at the bottom with your ankles…
Research suggests your ankles should be supported via a foot rest keeping the ankle joints at just over a 90 degree angle.
The same rule applies to your knees, keep them at slightly over 90 degree angle with at least 80-90% of your thighs supported on your seat parallel to the floor.
So basically, at all times your feet are planted firmly on the floor and your not sitting in a twisted position – which I know can be easy to do after sitting for hours without regular breaks!
Moving on to those troublesome lower backs…
A lot of us are guilty of having poor sitting posture – slouching in our chairs at work creating extra un-necessary stresses though our spine and the soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) that support our spine and body!
To avoid this extra stress it’s important to ensure that your bum is touching the back of the chair. So get your wiggle on and shuffle right to the back of your chair, don’t be worried if your feet come off the floor this is where the foot support will be ideal and come in handy.
To reduce lower back pain the use of a lumbar suppor,t which can be purchased very cheaply or done by simply rolling up a towel and placing it on your lower back, will straighten up your posture and help say goodbye to aches in your lower back.
Now we have a good back posture let’s take care of those painful necks and shoulders…
Do you spend most of your day on the phone at work?
Here’s a tip – use a head set to avoid your typical hunched over neck and shoulder phone position, keeping your neck free and loose.
What about if you’re spenidng long hours on the computer, or using a laptop?
Just like your legs it is also important to support your arms with arm rest which should be just higher than the level of your desk keeping the elbows at just over 90 degrees and the elbows level with your keyboard.
The use of a simple wrist support should also be applied as you are typing away to keep your elbows level with your keyboard.
Most importantly for your neck is the height and positioning of your computer screen. The top of your monitor should be directly at eye level and straight ahead of you so you are not twisting your neck and leaning it forward.
If you work from a laptop, you can get yourself a laptop raise to raise the screen up to your eye level. The use of a external keyboard and mouse can also avoid any issues caused by raising your screen may, but also more importantly keeps your elbows and wrists in the correct position.
If you are still struggling and find hard to relieve your pain take a hot water bottle, or a microwaveable wheat bag to work with you and apply for 20 minute periods throughout the day.
I hope you guys have found this information beneficial and helps you in your daily working life but, do remember movement is a must so whether it’s neck movements, and stretches while you are sitting or getting up to warm your wheat bag up in the microwave, do take regular periods to get moving or stretching to avoid seizing up!
===
For more tips like this on ways to ease back pain, click here where you can download your FREE copy of our back pain tips guide: www.paulgoughphysio.com/back-pain
You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.
Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.
- Great North Run 2024: Essential Tips for Peak Performance - August 27, 2024
- Don’t Fall For These Common Foot And Ankle Pain Myths! - July 31, 2024
- Our Top 5 Exercises To Prevent Knee Pain After Walking - June 20, 2024