Some occupations come with visible hazards – just ask a tradie. Many ‘desk jobs’ seemingly have few hazards and many comforts compared to tough, outdoors professions, but the lion’s share of hazards simply come from our posture whilst sitting down at our desk.

DESK JOBS AND BACK PAIN

Working at a desk can cause long-term back pain, so it’s a danger that most of us may not be aware for months or years until we do end up feeling back pain. Slouching, neck pain, crossed legs and poor hip alignment, pressure on spinal discs, and a lack of movement and poor blood circulation are all common symptoms of poor posture.

OFFICE CHAIRS VS EVERYTHING ELSE

There’s a reason why high-quality ergonomic office chairs are recommended for anyone working from home or in a traditional office. Dinner table chairs, stools, or other makeshift office chairs simply won’t do for long periods of work as these types of seating arrangements don’t promote good posture whereas office chairs do.

If you spend sometime at your desk, treat your office chair like you would a good mattress. Spending more on a high-quality office chair pays dividends for your health – just like a mattress does for eight hours a night, your chair is used for another third of the day.

WORK ERGONOMICALLY

It is essential that you create an ergonomic workspace that promotes good posture. This involves the chair itself, which was discussed above, but it also must accommodate a full range of motion with everything essential within arm’s reach. This includes your keyboard and mouse, which should be placed comfortably close without the need to slouch or overextend.

Also consider your legs and feet. Ensure that you have ample leg room and a comfortable place to rest your feet without crossing them. All of these factors will change depending on your body type and height, for example, so make sure that your workstation works for you.

TAKE BREAKS TO MOVE AROUND

Getting up to stretch every so often is essential, but it’s also so easy to overlook when we’re deeply focused on the task at hand. Nevertheless, routine breaks to get up, walk around, get some fresh air, or simply brew a pot of fresh coffee is essential to promote healthy blood flow and to take your mind off work for a few minutes.

One tried and tested method of disciplining oneself is to try the Pomodoro technique, which involves timed 25-minute ‘sessions’ (a unit of dedicated work/study time) followed by a five-minute break.

DO A ‘POSTURE CHECK’ FREQUENTLY

Slouching and neck pain frequently happen when we’ve failed to take sufficient break time and have perhaps gotten too comfortable, ironically putting us in a poor posture that can lead to long-term back pain. Perform a posture check every so often to ensure that your seating position and posture are ergonomic. If you’re following the Pomodoro technique, make a habit of checking your posture after every break.

SEEK EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR BACK PAIN

If you’re suffering from back pain, you may wish to seek relief in the form of effective treatment. Chiropractic treatment may work wonders for your back, which is why we recommend you visit us at Better Backs for professional back pain relief.

BETTER BACKS

Schedule an appointment with us at Better Backs today.