Dr Sarah Jarvis
Working from home
For almost 18 months, all eyes have been on COVID-19. But if you’re working from home it’s worth considering how you can adapt your environment to relieve aches and pains.
Our homes haven’t been set up for long working hours. After all,, big companies have whole occupational health departments, set up to ensure employees have all the equipment they need to avoid occupational health problems. But if you’re one of the millions who have switched to home working because of the pandemic, it probably p happened with very lit ttle notice.
In the last year, in nternet searches for b ack pain have in ncreased 900%. Neck and a shoulder pain searches s are almost as high, h up 800%, and even e searches for aching a finger joints are up u 300%. While working from home restrictions may have lifted, many companies have now discovered that their teams can work just as productively from home. With all the advantages of reduced commuting time and costs, it’s hardly surprising that permanent working from home looks set to double in the next year.
Interestingly, we conscientious Brits are actually likely to work even longer if we’re working on our own from home than if we’re in the office with others – in many cases, as much as two hours longer per day. We’re often taking shorter lunch breaks and certainly aren’t walking down the road for a sandwich. What’s more, while plenty of people drive to work, many others have been used to a brisk walk to the bus and back which they aren’t getting any more.
That means lots of people are doing less exercise than they were. As if this alone weren’t enough to increase joint pain, on average people in the UK have put on about half a stone in weight during the pandemic. Unfortunately, increased weight puts more pressure on your joints.
The wrong posture at work can make you prone to back pain, neck pain and repetitive strain injury affecting your arms. If your home is your office, a few adjustments may be all you need to improve things. First, make sure your lower back is properly supported by adjusting your chair. The seat level should
GETTING DAILY EXERCISE CAN IMPROVE MOBILITY AND BALANCE, RELIEVING JOINT PAIN AND CUTTING THE RISK OF FALLS.
allow you to rest your feet on the floor comfortably.
Your computer screen and keyboard should be directly in front of you so your upper arms are by your side, elbows bent at 90 degrees, forearms level with the floor. Your eyeline should be about at the top of the computer – if the screen is too high you’ll be more prone to eye strain.
My secret weapon for years has been a standing desk. I’ve always been a great advocate of keeping active and am very aware how much strain the wrong sitting position can put on joints. I was horrified at a study which suggests people in their 40s and early 50s spend almost 8 hours a day sitting – more than over 75s.
Too many of us tend to slouch when sitting, and this can worsen if you’re tired.
Over time, poor posture can lead to the lower and mid back muscles tightening up, leading to aching and even seizing up. A standing desk can help improve your posture, taking pressure off your neck and low back. However, prolonged standing puts different pressures on your muscles and joints, which can be tiring. So if you want to try a standing desk, start by alternating sitting and standing for an hour or two.
You might also consider a joint support supplement. LQ Collagen offers a daily dose of hydrolysed joint care marine collagen, scientifically formulated to support joints and bones. Ingredients include Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic
Acid, Ginger and Copper. NEXT WEEK: Can you inherit high cholesterol?