Did you know that back pain is the second common cause for missed work days only second to the common cold? When you sit down and think about how serious back pain is this is truly troubling. Back pain contributes to 93 million lost workdays and $5 billion in health care costs every year. These are some serious numbers. Back pain is not only a pain that can cost an employer a lot of money, but it can be extremely troubling for the individual suffering from it. It will not only affect you physically, but it will affect you mentally as well. Sitting at a desk all day can be one of the most common causes of back pain. Below, you will learn some tips and tricks that will help you tackle that back pain.
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Customize Your Chair And Desk
Most individuals that sit at a desk all day suffer from back pain because their desks and chairs are perfectly suited for their body’s needs. You need an office chair that has some kind of lumbar support and it should support the natural curve of your spine. A natural forward curve at the belly button level can offer just the right amount of support that you need to keep you pain-free. Not only this, but the height of the chair needs to be adequate as well. You want to be able to keep your feet flat on the floors with your knees at a 90-degree angle. A foot prop or footrest can also add the extra support that you need.
Be Careful About The Way You Speak On The Phone
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Many people that sit at a desk all day end up spending a great deal of time on the phone. This can also contribute to troublesome back pain. This is because when speaking on the phone most individuals place the phone between their head and shoulder to free up their hands. Sure, this is convenient and allow you to multitask, but you are doing your back and posture any favors. If you want to keep your hands free, you should consider a headset. Another neat trick is to hold the phone in your hand and switch between the right and left sides throughout the conversation.
Take Advantage Of Seating Support
There are a number of products available on the market that are specifically designed to help improve posture and provide relief from back pain. A seat cushion with memory foam that is pure with no additives can provide the relief that you are seeking. Some of these cushions are also heat responsive, which means that the advanced memory foam will respond to the heat of your body and mold perfectly to the shape of your buttock region. The thick padding will compress and cushion just enough to keep the tailbone, lower back, spine, and hips aligned so that there is no extra pressure placed on pressure points. These products are an invaluable resource for individuals that are constantly sitting behind a desk.
Get Up And Get Going
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Getting up and moving around probably seems like common sense, but still, there are so many people that constantly remain seated all day long. Sure, you are probably loaded down with work, but you have to make time to get up and move around so that you don’t destroy your back. Your body was simply created to move and keeping it in idle isn’t going to garner any favors. Take short breaks at least every hour to use the restroom, get a glass of water, visit the copy machine, or to just simply stretch. Even a quick few minutes walk around the desk can help.
