Your home office is causing you pain in more ways than one.
that 92 percent of chiropractors have seen a rise in patients with musculoskeletal issues. “People who were forced to work from home without the space and equipment really saw an uptick in injuries because they were working from wherever they could, whether it was their kitchen table or couch,” says Skye Donovan.
More than two years have passed since the stay-at-home orders, and many people have gone back to their offices. But Claire Bowe, a physical therapist atin downtown DC, says patients are still reporting musculoskeletal injuries including pinched nerves, carpal tunnel, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, tension headaches, and even sleep dysfunction. Bowe says some of that is no surprise, given the high number of office workers in the region, who tend to sit at computers all day. Yet she suspects that pandemic-related and political tension over the past few years have also contributed. “The biggest influences on your physical capacity are stress, hydration, nutrition, and sleep,” she says. “When one of those four things is thrown off, it will throw off your mechanics.” Skye Donovan believes one of the best things people can do to prevent these micro-traumatic injuries is to create a dedicated space for working. You don’t have to buy a fancy leather chair with built-in massage. She insists that a chair that has armrests and positions your hips higher than your knees works just fine. If you don’t have one with armrests, sitting at a table where your hands are higher than your elbows is okay, too. It’s also important to have your computer screen at eye level to keep you from tilting your head backward and forward, which strains your neck and shoulders. “You want everything in alignment,” she says. Stretching is also your friend, says Bowe. There’s no secret combination of moves that people have to figure out. It can be as simple as stretching your hamstrings or moving your head and neck from side to side for 30 seconds. “None of it is rocket science,” she says. “You just want to add mobility into your daily routine.” Those who work from home should also take frequent small breaks to walk around the house or the block to keep from staying in one position too long. “People don’t have a good separation of work and home, so they’re working longer hours,” Skye Donovan says. “Any kind of sustained position for a long time, whether it’s sitting or standing, takes a toll.” If you have pain that lasts more than a week or limits you from doing any of your normal activities, Bowe recommends seeing a physical therapist. Studies have shown that untreated acute pain can lead to the chronic or permanent kind, so seeking treatment once the pain starts could save you years of discomfort and thousands in medical costs. “Most aches and pains have very simple solutions, even those that have been around for 20-plus years” she says. “Just because it’s chronic doesn’t mean it isn’t solvable.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Evacuation orders lifted after chemical leak from rail car in Perris closes 215 FreewayThe chemical leak caused authorities to issue evacuation orders for homes in the nearby area and completely shut down both sides of the 215 Freeway in Perris.
Read more »
Early PT for Lower Back Pain Sends Fewer Patients to SpecialistsA new study concludes that primary care physicians who advise patients with lower back pain to wait for symptoms to resolve may be setting patients up for unnecessary specialist visits.
Read more »
Texas man convicted of child sexual assault chugs mystery liquid as verdict read, diesThe Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined Edward Leclair’s cause or manner of death
Read more »
Baby's death in May ruled homicide by Marion County coronerThe Marion County coroner ruled the death of 1-year-old girl at a home on the east side in May was a homicide caused by blunt trauma.
Read more »
A year later, the Afghanistan withdrawal causes enduring painOne year after the withdrawal of American and allied forces from Afghanistan, the question is still being asked whether the United States made a mistake in withdrawing its forces from that country.
Read more »