So here we are in the middle of lockdown part 2...

You go from sitting at your purpose designed desk and workstation in the office that has been assessed by Occupational Health to sitting at your kitchen table / dining table or slouching on the sofa with your laptop on your knees. How do these new working positions compare how you would be sitting to work at your computer in the office? 

 

I’m guessing they are totally different. So are the forces on your back and pelvis. 

 

There is good reason why your employer supplies you with the equipment that they do in the office. It is there to lessen the stress and strain on your back, pelvis and neck to stop you picking up strains and experiencing pain. It’s not just your welfare that your employer is interested in as a healthy happy employee will be a lot more productive than an employee in pain. Remember as well your meetings that you would have got up and walked to another room to attend are now online so you have the potential to sit even longer in front of your computer and move around less. 

 

This is all putting more strain on your system with the potential to lead to injury and pain. So what can you do about it when you are forced to work from home? 

 

First thing to do is to think about how and where you are sitting. Sure it’s fine to sit on the sofa with your laptop but not for hours on end. Limit this to short periods if this is your preferred way to work from home. Better still set up a working position that mimics your office workstation as much as possible. Elevate your laptop to a better working position, sit on a cushion to be able to be in a better position at the table you are working from, ask your employer for any equipment they may be able to supply – this may not be much but even a wireless mouse and keyboard will go a long way to improving your working position instead of being hunched over a laptop for hours on end. Get up and move, make a cup of tea or coffee, if you have to make a call stand and do it or walk around as you talk. 

 

These are just some examples of how you can improve your home working environment. IF you would like some exercises to help to then feel free to email me at robert@batemanchiropractic.co.uk and I will send you some short videos of good exercises to use to combat the strains of working from home free of charge. 

 

Till next time. 

 

Robert Bateman BSc DC DCHA 

 

Chiropractor