Watch your back, neck as you telework
Working from home has become a literal pain in the neck for many New Zealanders.
Physiotherapists and chiropractors have seen a constant stream of new customers with neck and back complaints since the country’s first lockdown almost a year ago.
Temporary desks, hours spent working at laptops, and hard chairs have been blamed for a host of issues including neck and lower back pain.
Chiropractor Sam Baktash, of Revolution Chiropractic in Northcote, had noticed a marked increase in the number of people who mentioned “work from home” when needing back and neck treatment.
“It has been significant and I have noticed it is mainly new clients with neck pain, lower back pain and headaches caused by tight traps,” Baktash said.
“If they come in early we can often improve strength with an adjustment but sometimes, if it has been an issue for months or more, we need to refer for massage because the muscles are so tight,” she said.
Baktash said treatment was always followed up with workstation assessment and recommendation.
“The treatment is undone if that person goes straight back to a workstation causing bad posture.
“We give people information on where their legs, hips, arms, head, feet, and head should line up.”
Laptop use was the biggest issue with workers looking down at a screen and putting strain and pressure on their necks.
“We suggest immediately getting an external keyboard and having the laptop placed on something so it is at eye level.”
“A good ergonomic chair with the correct lumbar support is also essential.”
Baktash had heard some companies had provided equipment such as chairs and computers to make their regular work-fromhome teams safe.
Others, especially those who worked from home only during lockdown, were often working from kitchen tables, bedrooms and makeshift workstations that were not ergonomically correct.
“These are the people we have seen most often,” Baktash said.
Jodi Milne, owner of Jodi Milne Physiotherapy on the North Shore, had also seen an increase in workstation injuries in the past year.
Milne said it was not expensive to correctly set up a workstation with low-budget options such as office chairs from The Warehouse and Kmart.
Kiwi-made ergonomic desks, including standing desks, were also available from companies like Work From Home Desks.
Meanwhile, Physiotherapy New Zealand and Podiatrynz are appealing to authorities to be able to operate in level 3.
Physiotherapists and podiatrists already maintain protocols to maximise patient and staff safety including ongoing risk assessment and infection prevention control, said Physiotherapy New Zealand chief executive Sandra Kirby.
Kirby said Aucklanders’ health and wellbeing were being put at risk with the postponement of treatment in level 3.
“Recognising we’re likely to experience ongoing lockdowns the current restrictions on health services are too stringent,” she said.
“Businesses outside the health sector can see the public in person in higher alert levels, physiotherapists and podiatrists are left with telehealth as the only option for treating people who require their expertise.”
The Ministry of Health called for submissions on its approach to health service delivery in November.
Kirby said four months on, the Health Ministry had not addressed the request for registered health professionals to provide safe inperson services at alert level 3.
“While guidelines for alert level 3 have been eased for some food sellers, indications from the Ministry of Health are there are no changes planned for health services,” said Kirby.
Video footage of a brutal crackdown on protests against a coup in Myanmar unleashed outrage and calls for a stronger international response yesterday, a day after 38 people were killed. Videos showed security forces shooting a person at point-blank range and chasing down and savagely beating demonstrators.
Despite the shocking violence the day before, protesters returned to the streets yesterday to denounce the military’s February 1 takeover — and were met again with tear gas.
The international response to the coup has so far been fitful, but a flood of videos shared online showing security forces brutally targeting protesters and other civilians led to calls for more action.
The United States called the images appalling, the UN human rights chief said it was time to “end the military’s stranglehold over democracy in Myanmar”, and the world body’s independent expert on human rights in the country urged the Security Council to watch the videos before meeting today to discuss the crisis.
The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. As the generals loosened their grip in recent years, the international community lifted most sanctions and poured in investment.
UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, described Thursday as “the bloodiest day” since the takeover, when the military ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
More than 50 civilians, mostly peaceful protesters, are confirmed to have been killed by police and soldiers since then, including the 38 she said died on Thursday.
At least five children had been killed and more than 500 were estimated to be among those arbitrarily detained, Unicef said yesterday.
While some countries have imposed or threatened to impose sanctions following the coup, others, including those neighbouring Myanmar, have been more hesitant in their response.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet yesterday urged all of those with “information and influence” to hold military leaders to account.
“This is the moment to turn the tables towards justice and end the military’s stranglehold over democracy in Myanmar,” she said.