How to Avoid Back Pain at the Office

If you’ve been fortunate enough to spend some time away from the office this summer with your kids, back-to-school for them probably means back-to-the-office for you!

As Pickering chiropractors and massage therapists, we often spend this time of year reviewing the proper way to carry a backpack with parents and their children. You can read that blog post here or contact our Ajax chiropractic and massage therapy clinic at 905-427-3202 to learn more.

Today we’d like to focus on what you are doing now that you’re back at the office.

Back pain statistics

Over 80% of the working population will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Many people sit all day at work, often with poor posture, and this can increase the risk of developing low back pain. Sitting down for long periods of time, repetitive movements and awkward work positions may lead to pain and discomfort. Here are five tips that will make your workstation more comfortable.

How to reduce your back pain at work

Maintain Proper Posture

The secret to good posture is maintaining the spine’s natural curves. If your spine is not properly aligned, your muscles and ligaments have to work harder to keep you upright. When sitting, make sure that your ears, shoulders and hips are in line and your buttocks are at the back of the chair. Sit tall with your chest high.

Adjust Your Chair

Your shoulders and lower back should rest comfortably against the backrest. You may need to use a lumbar support pillow or a rolled up towel to provide extra support to your lower back. The height and angle of the seat should allow for your thighs to be parallel to the floor with your knees in line with or slightly lower than your hips.

Adjust Your Computer Monitor

The top line of text on the screen (not the top of the monitor) should be at eye level. This helps to keep your neck in a neutral position while you work. If your monitor is not adjustable, stack books or other materials underneath it to raise it up.

Check the Position of Your Keyboard and Mouse

Place your keyboard high enough to allow you to rest your arms with your elbows at your sides and your forearms parallel to the floor. If you use a laptop regularly, consider buying an external keyboard so you don’t need to choose between straining your neck to look down at the monitor or straining your arms to reach up to your keyboard. Place your mouse as close to the keyboard as possible to avoid unnecessary reaching.

Keep Moving

More important than maintaining “perfect” posture is moving and changing positions. Avoid sitting in one position for longer than 30-50 minutes at a time. Take a quick stretch break or, even better, get up and move around. While sitting, try to change positions periodically.

For more information on how to avoid lower back pain at the office, call Pickering Village Chiropractic and Massage at 905-427-3202.

 

Source: Ontario Chiropractic Association