Many of us are accustomed to the 40 hour work week and spending a large portion of our day sitting in an office setting. While an office job typically doesn’t contain the physical stress of manual labor, you should still take precautions for your health while at work! Even if more of us have transitioned to working from home this year, there are some steps you should keep in mind throughout your work day to maintain proper spinal health and avoid back problems before they begin or worsen. In today’s blog, we’ll be going over some simple steps you can take to make better habits for your health and avoid back problems that can commonly spring up from your job.
Are you experiencing problems with back pain? If so, the services of a trusted chiropractor are an excellent tool to avoid back problems and have you feeling your very best. Prospect Family Chiropractic Center strives to be your top choice for chiropractic services in Oakland Park and the surrounding areas of Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Hialeah, Davie, Miami Gardens, and Hollywood. We’ve been providing chiropractic services for more than 20 years in our local communities. After checking out these tips, give us a call today for any chiropractic needs.
Maintaining Proper Posture
From a young age, most of us are told about the importance of maintaining proper posture while sitting or standing. Whether or not you listened to this advice, it is very important! It’s easy to fall into the habit of slumping over while focused on your work, especially in an office setting, and this can be a very difficult habit to break once it becomes ingrained.
Years of improper posture can cause your musculoskeletal system to become misaligned, negatively impact the health of your spine, affect your joints and flexibility, and cause a whole host of other problems. To avoid the pain associated with improper posture, it’s important to make the change of becoming mindful of your posture until it becomes second nature. Consider putting a sticky note on your computer or somewhere else you will see it regularly, in order to keep the thought of posture in the forefront of your mind throughout your day.
You can also improve your posture through regular physical exercise, taking frequent breaks, changing your sitting position regularly, and ensuring your chair and desk are set at a proper height. Keep those shoulders back and sit up straight, and you’ll start to notice how much better you look and feel with proper posture!
Lumbar Support and Alternative Desk Setups
In maintaining proper posture, you need to consider both how to position your body and your desk setup itself. One key element to keep in mind is maintaining proper lumbar support in your chair. Your lumbar region (a.k.a. your lower back) should be properly supported while seated. If you don’t want to invest in an entirely new chair, you can consider adding a pillow or rolled towel to your seatback to provide that much needed support. Just be sure to sit all the way back in your chair to ensure it’s able to be most effective!
Many modern, health-conscious workplaces have embraced alternative desk setups such as standing desks or yoga ball chairs. A standing desk allows you to stand and keep your head, neck, and torso in line. It also provides the benefit of not spending such a large amount of your day seated. When using a standing desk, keep your desk at about elbow level, and your monitor about even with your eye level. A yoga ball chair, on the other hand, provides a form of “active sitting” which engages your core and is thought to improve posture and help address back pain.
Taking Breaks
While it may seem like an obvious tip, another important step to take is regular breaks from sitting at your work desk. It’s recommended that you avoid sitting in the same position for any longer than 30 minutes at a time. The neck and back pain associated with long periods of slumping in front of your computer can be addressed by regularly taking time to get up and walk around, whether you’re working in an office or from home. Stretching throughout the day is another excellent way to relieve muscle tension and improve your posture.
Visit a Chiropractor For Back Pain
That may seem like a lot to take in, but making conscious habits to improve your posture and avoid unnecessary back pain at work provides massive benefits to your overall health. If you are experiencing back pain, whether stemming from improper posture or other factors such as athletic injuries or a car accident, a qualified chiropractor can help. At Prospect Family Chiropractic Center, we offer adjustments and alignments, activator method treatment, spinal decompression treatment, and other services that will have you feeling your very best. Reach out today to see how we can help with chiropractic care in Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale!