So you have a desk job. Work-related injuries are in the past now, right? Unfortunately, not so much, desk-related on-the-job injuries are actually quite common these days.
Myers Family Chiro states on their website that,
“Chiropractic focuses mostly on your spine and the nervous system as a whole. Why is that? The reason is simple: the nervous system is the control center for your entire body. Keeping your spine and nervous system healthy will allow your brain to communicate to your body at an optimal level and in turn keeps your body healthy.”
While you shouldn’t be concerned about breaking your leg while at your new gig, there are some common wear and tear-related injuries that you can help prevent these five simple practices.
Improve Seated Posture
Improving seated posture is perhaps the most important and easiest thing you can do to reduce the potential for desk-job-related injury. Poor posture can wreak havoc on your body. The best thing you could do to prevent such injury is choosing an ergonomically designed desk from EverDesk+ to be set up on your workstation
Everything from lower back and neck pain to increased cardiovascular risk has been associated with poor posture. That’s why it’s critical to properly set up the ergonomics or your seating area, chair, desk, etc. so that you can maintain correct posture and avoid potential health risks.
It may be difficult to always remember to maintain your posture, but it is well worth the effort. Tape for Lower Back Pain can help. Read on for more tips.
Get up and Stretch
Recent research from the University of Exeter has revealed the negative effects of stationary posture for prolonged periods of time.
Even worse, standing desks won’t save you. Standing desks have become steadily more popular of late as workers attempt to avoid extended seated periods, however standing for long periods may actually be just as bad for your health.
According to Melvyn Hillsdon, the author of the University of Exeter study:
“Any stationary posture where energy expenditure is low may be detrimental to health, be it sitting or standing.”
The importance of getting up and stretching is now more clear than ever. It’s not just the usual hip tightness from extended periods of sitting which can lead to lower back pain. These days, sedentary lifestyles with minimal movement are leading to even more serious health effects, like an increased chance of type II diabetes and cardiovascular risk.
Heads Up!
The modern workforce spends an average of over 1,700 hours annually at the computer, according to a recent poll from The Independent. Add to that constant texting in their personal lives and many workers find themselves with some serious neck problems.
The term ‘text neck’ was coined back in 2012 as millions began to use their phones as television screens and work surfaces.
From craning over the keyboard at work to staring down at the phone when at home, modern workers spend hours daily with their necks bent in an unnatural way. The best way to address this is by simply learning to type and text with your head up.
So, don’t forget heads up!
Chiropractic Care
The best way to prevent desk-related injuries is to regularly visit a chiropractor. From the NBA to the UFC, all the best athletes in the world believe in chiropractic care.
And for good reason, chiropractors can help patients avoid injuries by correctly aligning the body. This allows for that perfect posture and makes it easier to avoid the dreaded ‘text neck.’
In particular, if you are suffering from upper back or neck pain from your constant downward glare it may pay to visit an upper cervical specialist. These chiropractors have specific post-graduate training to deal with the increasingly common issues that come from our modern lifestyle.
When it comes to back and neck pain, the best thing to do is avoid it altogether. That means preventative care and staying aware of the pitfalls of modern desk-related jobs.
More on this topic: How to Improve Your Wellbeing at Work