DO YOU HAVE SEDENTARY WORK HEALTH PROBLEMS?
- Our working life can cause a whole host of conditions that have a huge impact on our health.
- Our working life can not only cause health problems it can also exacerbate ones we already have.
- It’s often difficult to differentiate the mix of personal, home and work health issues.
- Someone may have a preexisting condition and they may also have issues in the workplace.
- It’s often the combination of these that is ultimately what leads to them becoming ill.
- Common ailments are: Lower back pain, joint injuries, arthritis, and arm pain.
- Office workers often spend hours sitting still and carrying out repetitive tasks.
- The human body isn't designed for this were supposed to be moving around.
- Common causes of sickness absence include musculo-skeletal conditions such as lower back pain and work-relevant upper limb disorders, such as nonspecific arm pain.
- Also, office knee is a growing problem, partly due to the rise of the internet and being stuck at a desk all day long.
- A huge surge in the number of people with knee pain is due to the sedentary lifestyle we now lead.
- It is also found in people with desk-based jobs, who have been working for 10-20 years in these roles.
- Staring at the computer for hours rather than having an active job means we are burning 120-140 fewer calories a day than 50 years ago.
- Rotate your tasks.
- Alternate computer and telephone use or, even better, go and speak to someone in person.
- Maintain good posture at your computer, and don’t slump and slouch.
- Keep shoulders down, back straight and don’t lean your head forward.
- And resist crossing your legs.
- Make sure you get out of the office every day for some fresh air.
- Take quick breaks at least every hour, even if it is just to run up and down the stairs.