Issues with Posture When Working
By Sara Butler
The chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic see many patients who are plagued with pain, discomfort, and dysfunction that all have one cause: poor posture. Whether you work from home or go to the office each day, there are an abundance of issues that can occur related to how you sit and work. Here are some of the most common issues that chiropractors see and how you can solve them.
Problem No. 1: Too Much Pressure on the Lower Back and Spine
Sitting for long periods of time can place too much stress and strain on the lower back and spine. This can be a huge contributor to joint dysfunctions in that area which can lead to issues down the road.
To fix this issue, make sure you're getting up at least once each hour throughout the day no matter where you are. Set an alarm on your phone or computer that reminds you to stop what you're doing, stand up, and walk around for at least a couple of minutes. You need to build activity into your day, especially if you're not exercising in your time off.
Be honest with yourself about how much you sit each day and take steps to give your spine a break by moving around regularly and taking some of that pressure off. If you need to, find a way to stand for a while each day as you work and take a short walk on your lunch break or after work is done for the day.
Problem No. 2: Hunching Over Your Computer
Hunching over your keyboard for hours at a time each day can cause sore shoulders and a sore neck. It's easy to start out the day strong with good posture but then slowly start to hunch as you get tired and the day wears on. Hunching can be a problem if you work from a laptop, too.
The fix for this is to make sure your computer screen is at or just below eye level. That way you don't have to look down, no matter how slight, for hours at a time. When you look down even just a little for long periods of time, this places stress and strain on the upper back and shoulders. You should throw in some neck and shoulders stretches for good measure, too.
Take care of your body when you're working so that you don't have issues down the road.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Katy, Tex.