According to statistics, 15% of employees in Germany already suffer from recurring back pain. Not only older people are affected. Even at a young age, pain can limit the ability to work under pressure. Sedentary work continues to be one of the most common causes of posture problems and back pain. The following advice shows how to make everyday office life pain-free.
Back pain limits productivity
Acute pain in the back or shoulders causes people to adopt a protective posture. This quickly limits an important part of the musculoskeletal system. What can be compensated for in private life by rest or massages is a reason to pursue work less efficiently at work. Back pain is a far-reaching problem for employees and employers, and not just in very active professions.
If productivity is curtailed, work processes come to a standstill and the workload in the next few days increases. To prevent this snowball effect, companies are also increasingly addressing the root of the problem to bring more movement into the workday.
More movement is the key to prevention
Spending a large part of the workday in a sedentary position corresponds to a posture that is not natural. The resulting problems can have a negative impact on the back, both because of the spine and through the muscles. To avoid these discomforts, it is helpful to incorporate more movement into the day. In the office, taking small breaks several times a day to rebalance the back through exercise is an option. This includes office gymnastics, for example, in which furniture and walls replace the missing gym equipment. In this way, the muscles are strengthened and blood circulation is promoted.
Employers help reduce downtime with new furniture
Office furnishings can also play a role in reducing the number of employees who develop back pain or even chronic conditions. For this reason, it is recommended to first look at the furnishings from a critical perspective. These observations focus first on the desk and the appropriate seating. The latter can now be replaced with little effort by kneeling chairs or even sitting balls.
However, this is not the only back-friendly option for the workplace. A standing desk also puts the back in a healthier posture. Instead of sitting, this desk allows you to perform all the usual office tasks while standing. To keep your legs from feeling too heavy after a long day of work, a height-adjustable standing desk is the right choice. Within moments, the height can be changed to switch from standing to a sitting position.
Incorporating new routines into the workday
If there is no room in the employer’s budget for new office furniture, there are other ways to get relief from back pain. One of these ways is through more movement during the day. Taking a new sitting position on the chair every half hour can already make a noticeable difference. In addition, it should also be possible to get up more often during the day. For example, the printer can be moved further away so that recurring office tasks no longer have to be performed exclusively while sitting down.
Ergonomics at the workplace is another important detail
If the pain radiates from the neck and shoulders into the back, an incorrect posture of the head can also be responsible for this. Workplace ergonomics serves to prevent these complaints. One step towards an ergonomic work environment is monitors that are at eye level. This goal is achieved when monitors are at a height where only the eyes move up and down, but not the entire head. Investing a few minutes in realigning monitors can prevent painful discomfort in the future.