There is a definite trend. Since the lockdown people have been presenting with low back pain and upper back and neck pain. The consensus of opinion is that it’s due to home working, or at the opposite end of the spectrum carrying out home improvements and gardening .
With home working people are using a chair/desk combo that isn’t quite as good as their work-office set up. The hips may be too low relative to their knees, the inward curve of the lower-back may not be adequately supported/maintained. *keeping the inward curve of the lumbar spine-as it is when standing up- when seated, makes it less likely that the sitting posture will aggravate the low back in those people who suffer from episodic back pain. Sitting for longer periods than normal is an aggravating factor for a lot of people working from home. Perhaps also they aren’t getting in a little walk in the mornings as they may when going to work. Backs seem most vulnerable first thing in the morning so a little walk on the way to work may warm them up for the day and help to prevent injury. A lower desk or monitor is reported in neck and shoulder pain patients, and those with upper backs. Again, sitting too long without a break isn’t great for the spine. *The human body likes movement and doesnt always respond well to sustained sedentary postures. The weight of the head (a heavy old body part) being too far pronounced in front of the body, for too long, really does strain that junction between neck and upper back. The area where the two curves meet here is strained by the head being forward looking at a monitor for a prolonged time. So, general advice: 1; Warm up for your day’s work at the desk at home. Have a 15- 20 min walk. Do a few stretch hes then after. Pretend you are warming up for a sport. 2; try to keep your hips above your knees when seated. Sit on a cushion if needs be. Ideally sit on a pelvic office wedge. 3; Keep a cushion into your low back to keep a bit of an inward curve. 4; Elevate your desk or your screen, so that you are looking ahead slightly down when sitting. 5; Try to sit upright, shoulders back and head high. DONT SLOUCH. We dont want your head arching forward or your low- back slumping back. A reverse C-Curve is very bad for your lumbar spine. 6; Have regular breaks- 5 mins every 1/2 hour? It’s easy to sit for 2-3 hours without a break to get things done, but your back may protest in the next couple of days. 7; Offset the postural stress of desk work with a nice walk after work. The evenings are still light (August), and it does you good psychologically to get out and see some greenery- a woods, a park, a sports ground. Essentially, sit down less + walk more= less back pain. Not easy if you are a desk worker though. Finally, phone me if you need some Chiropractic treatment for your back/neck pain. Chiropractic care can often be of benefit to a good many people with spinal/skeletal issues. Common problems happen commonly! I will be happy to try to help you with yours, with a package of professional manual therapy, and advice. All the best, Steve
Barum Chiropractic 