Flores Chiropractic

Originally written by me for information site, Alijor, I thought this information might benefit my patients. If you’re like the average American, each day, you spend at least 8-10 hours in a seated position. Whether it’s in front of a computer screen, on the drive to work, at the dinner table, or watching TV after a hectic day, you sit for hours each day.

And that can wreak havoc on your spine and contribute to these common workplace injuries:

1. Back pain
2. Neck and shoulder pain
3. Headaches
4. Eye strain
5. Arm and wrist pain
6. Low back and leg pain
7. Fatigue
8. Repetitive strain injuries (such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or tendonitis)

But there is good news. Improving your posture and creating an ‘ergonomically friendly’ work space can reduce your risk of suffering from these injuries.

Five tips to avoid sitting injuries:

1. Get moving. Get up and move around for 5 minutes every hour. Yes, every hour! You can still work while standing up and moving around in your area (you can even use the time to tackle any files that might be piling up on your desk).
2. Look ahead. When you work at a computer all day, try to look out a window, or across the room for 10 seconds every 15 minutes. This helps reduce eye strain.
3. Sit up. A good chair with low back support will maintain the proper curves of the spine.  Stand facing your chair. Adjust the sitting surface so that it is just below the bottom of your knees.  When sitting, your thighs should be parallel with the floor.  This reduces the stress on your lower back.
4. Check your monitor. Your computer monitor should be directly in front of you with the top of the screen even with, or slightly below, eye level. This keeps your neck in a neutral position and decreases chance of neck discomfort and degeneration.
5. Consider a new keyboard. Use a negative tilt keyboard tray with an upper mouse platform or downward tilt-able platform adjacent to keyboard.  This can help decrease carpel tunnel syndrome.

Correct Desk Posture

Muscle overload can lead to damage

When muscles and ligaments are stressed, they respond by repairing and strengthening; but if the overload is frequent, damage may result. Trauma, or sudden stress, to a ligament begins with pain, swelling and results in lost function. Injuries and damage need proper treatment to heal rapidly. Rest is important; which includes days of immobilization of the damaged area, followed by reintroduction of movement and activity. Reactivation is also necessary — which consists of exercise and guidance. A skilled chiropractor can guide you through this process and help you return to your ultimate potential health.

Did you know?

Your back assumes its normal posture based on the shape of the spine. The spine normally has four curves in it.  The bones of the spine are called vertebra. They are separated by spongy pads called discs. In between the vertebra exit the spinal nerves that control the function of every muscle and organ in the body. Poor posture can alter the natural curves of your spine and cause damage to discs and nerves.