Modern office workers spend most of their days sitting at their desks, working at computers, stuck in meetings or daydreaming in traffic. This modern lifestyle is not ideal for our cardiovascular system, but have you considered the musculoskeletal effects?
Our bodies have been designed to move regularly and, in the absence thereof, we progressively suffer the consequences. The good news is that a few simple habits can lower or even avoid the instances of symptoms originating from earning a living.
Health workers over the past few decades have been blaming posture for desk-related symptoms and every day, I have someone in my practice blaming posture for their symptoms at work… But research has shown that there is no such thing as good or bad posture. And no matter how hard we try to force our patients or ourselves to change postures, it’s a losing battle.
Luckily, good posture isn’t a requirement to look after your body or remain symptom-free. The factor that influences what you feel like during and after your workday is whether you have MOVED! Have you ever considered that when you’re keeping still, you’re expecting the same few muscles to remain contracted for hours on end, to keep you in that position? Give them regular breaks and they won’t turn on you.
With the ever-increasing demands being faced in corporate companies and small businesses alike, you are able to heighten your productivity and well-being by implementing these easy health adjustments:
- Work in a position in which you feel comfortable.
- Take breaks from keeping still, every 25-30 minutes. (Help your colleagues by implementing this culture in meetings as well)
- Walk to your colleagues rather than emailing someone in the room.
- Alternate between various positions or try some ‘pause exercises’ if you’re unable to walk away (Do one or two of your prescribed exercises even if they no longer feel needed)
- Get in the habit of getting up when the office smoker heads out and take an actual lunch break for a change!
Blaming age and posture has always been the easy way out, but the real reason why adults are so frequently plagued by inexplicable aches and pains is because our pursuit to make a living has replaced the natural movements our bodies once enjoyed. In schools, the bell made us change classes, we played around during break time and had hours of exercise after school or over weekends. Now adults blame age and posture for ‘putting your back out’ while putting on a pair of socks. Get back in the habit of moving little bits on a regular basis and you’ll soon see that your headaches, back pain and even sports injuries become few and far between.
Your health and physical well-being should be a priority deserving of quality care. Make sure to discuss any concerns you may have directly with your preferred physiotherapist, so that you can receive the appropriate guidance for your unique situation.