The increase in flexible home working brought about by Covid-19 has meant that as a Bristol osteopath I've been advising more patients on how to sit well and avoid poor posture.
Problems associated with poor posture and sitting for too long and in unhealthy positions while working at a desk can be short-term, ongoing, or potentially life-changing if not addressed early and treated fully and professionally by Bristol osteopaths.
Government body the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that there are over 480,000 musculoskeletal disorders in the UK affecting 8.9 million people.
I cannot say these are solely down to poor posture and/or working at a desk, but there will be a considerable percentage of those disorders that are due to poor posture and not sitting well at work, at a desk, or a combination of both.
Furthermore, I saw a survey on HR News, indicating that a third of UK office staff suffer from backache as a direct result of working from a desk and incorrect equipment.
A further 8% of those surveyed said that they suffered from RSI and wrist injuries whilst working from desks at work.
The need for better care of back, neck and shoulders is clearly evident in the posture and sitting positions of many people in Bristol and across the UK.
When it comes to knowing how to sit well and avoid poor posture, some of the tips I give my patients include:
A quick posture check
The way we sit has a massive impact on maintaining good back health. The spine needs to be neutral to stay in good shape, so that the natural curves of the spine are maintained while we sit.
Stay physically active
Lack of exercise and movement can cause damage to the back. Walking, running, cycling, yoga and pilates are all good forms of low-impact exercise that can improve back health and mobility.
Stand up often
Movement is health, so stand up and move often. Sitting down for long periods is a major contributing factor to poor back health when working at a desk. Aim to stand up for 60 seconds every 20 minutes as a minimum.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Drinking water throughout the day when working at a desk helps to maintain back health. Good hydration helps the joints, ligaments and muscles in the back to remain healthy.
Prevention is better than cure
Utilising preventative treatments with a Bristol Osteopath can be a superb way of maintaining good back health when working from a desk at home or in an office environment.
One of the most important things to do to prevent back pain in Bristol is to take micro breaks. I've written an entire blog post about it.
I wrote a blog post last year highlighting hints and tips on how to deal with back pain from working at home in lockdown which contains useful techniques to utilise.
I offer patients an online-based postural assessment service which can help to establish any issues with posture or sitting position at a desk.
If you have suffered from a back, neck or shoulder injury from poor posture or while working at a desk, please book a treatment rapidly and easily with me online here.
My Bristol osteopath clinic is fully open so if you’re looking for Covid-safe treatments, please read this news post to find out about the measures in place at my Henleaze osteopathy clinic for all patients.
To find out more about the full range of Covid-secure osteopathic treatments that I provide in Bristol, please visit here for details.