While Australia continues to work from home under the implemented lockdown laws, many of us are staring at computer screens in vastly different positions than what we are used to. Some people are set up on their couch or bed, while others are using makeshift desk in their living rooms, all of which is playing havoc with our postures. The change in posture from our office desk and chair, combined with the very little commute people are making, means we are moving less and staying stationery longer in strained positions.
Having a bad posture not only psychically impacts the way you stand and walk, but it comes with a host of health implication such back, neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, soreness and even headaches. So, to help fix your bad posture while you work from home, we have compiled some tips to follow.
Learn to Sit Correctly
When you repeatedly crane our head down and forward, you apply excess pressure on the bones and muscles that hold the weight of your head. And when you slouch, you can cause the discs on our back to become compressed, causing pain and reduced circulation. To counteract these affects you must learn to sit correctly.
- Recline your chair 25-30 degrees with a good lumbar support. When you sit in this position the discs in your back and neck are subjected to much lower forces than an upright position.
- Keep your feet flat and avoid your knees or ankles
- Relax your shoulders and keep your forearms and knees parallel to the floor
- Look forward at your computer, angle the screen so you do not have the look down
- Take a 10-minute break from sitting every hour, walk around the house or do stretches
Seek Professional Help for Your Pain
If you want to reduce the effects of your bad posture, you can combine sitting correctly with a regular head, neck and shoulder massage from a trained therapist. Massages can help relieve tension and stiffness in your upper body, reduce pain and offer a deep relaxation to the head, neck and shoulder area. It also stimulates blood flow and improves the functioning of the lymph system.
Christopher's Remedial Massage Can Help
To learn more about our range of services and massage treatments, get in touch with the team at Christopher's Remedial Massage. At our sports and remedial massage clinic, we listen to your concerns and put into practice our wealth of experience and knowledge in the mechanics of the body. To reap the benefits of remedial massage, and stop living in pain, book an appointment today.