Wednesday 10 September 2014

6 Tips To Reduce Back Pain At Work




Good posture is easy in theory but difficult to practice.

When you’re sitting at a desk, staring at a screen for hours it’s easy to let posture slip.
We tend to slump a little, slouch a lot, lean forward, hunch and generally move around.

The muscles responsible for keeping us upright are the abdominal muscles and the back muscles (intertransversarii muscle, multifidus spinae, trapezius muscle)

Leaning forward 30 degrees to get closer to your computer screen puts 3 to 4 times more strain on the back, causing premature wear and tear on the joint surfaces, ligaments of the spine, and the discs located between the vertebrae.
The back muscles are also negatively affected as the continuous added strain causes them to tighten, reducing optimal blood flow. Over time this posture leads to the development of tight, rigid muscles and joints, which in turn makes them prone to injury.

Here’s a quick 6 point guide to sitting comfortably and reducing back pain;


1. Elbow position

First, begin by sitting comfortably as close as possible to your desk so that your upper arms are vertical, parallel to your spine and rest your hands on your desktop / keyboard.
If your elbows are not at a 90-degree angle, adjust your office chair height either up or down.

2. Thigh position

You should be able to slide your fingers under your thigh at the front edge of the office chair. If it is too tight, you need to prop your feet up with an adjustable footrest or adjust the seat height but remember point 1!

3. Calf position

Sit back against the chair back and place your hand between the back of your calf and the front edge of your office chair. If you can’t, you will need to adjust the chair backrest, lumbar support or seat depth by using a seat slide if one is fitted, or get a new office chair!

4. Lower back

When you sit correctly with you back against the back rest, there should be cushioning that causes your lower back to arch slightly to encourage you not to slump forward or slouch down in the chair. This low back support in an office chair is essential to minimize the strain on your back.

5. Eye level

Your resting gaze should be aimed at the centre of your computer screen. If your computer screen is higher or lower than your gaze, you need to either raise or lower it to reduce neck strain.

6. Armrest

Adjust the armrest of the office chair so that it just slightly lifts your arms at the shoulders. Using an armrest on your office chair is a great way to take some of the strain off your neck and shoulders and should make you less likely to slouch forward in your office chair.






1 comment:

  1. The great article assisted me a lot! The highest quality fitness and wellness education you provided.

    regards,
    Rachel

    downtown seattle chiropractor

    ReplyDelete