Head, neck and back- posture in the office
Correct posture and alignment, especially while sitting for prolonged periods, is essential for office workers in order to prevent work related pain and injuries. Admittedly, most of us sit with poor posture at some point, but when a person has to adopt their sitting position for long periods of time, often day in and day out, serious health issues can result.
Some consequences of incorrect sitting posture…
- Headaches
- Neck pain and spasm
- Interscapular/thoracic pain and stiffness
- Lower back pain
- Muscular tension throughout the shoulder girdle
- Wrist, forearm or elbow pain
- Potential for lumbar disc irritation/bulging
What to do about it…
Many people admit they know they have poor posture, but don’t know what to do about it. This is where education becomes crucial. Correct workstation setup is very simple to teach and the most effective preventative tool we have in helping people avoid the above potentially disabling problems. A simple diagram such as the one shown here can go a long way to assisting those who come to us as doctors and physiotherapists for help…
All of our physiotherapists at The Physio Nook are well trained and experienced in educating patients about workstation setup, postural corrective exercises and of course manual therapy that will alleviate any problems that may have arisen from poor office work habits. We use a combination of soft tissue massage, trigger point release, spinal mobilisation, dry needling (acupuncture) and exercises to stretch and strengthen anti-gravity muscles as well as improving alignment when we are faced with these workers. As usual, early detection and referral for treatment is the key.
I hope this summary will help you or someone you know. As always, we are here at PhysioWorks WA to help out with any musculoskeletal disorders you may have, postural or otherwise! Feel free to call us, email, or drop in for a great service.
Paul Woodward
Principal Physiotherapist
The Physio Nook.
Some consequences of incorrect sitting posture…
- Headaches
- Neck pain and spasm
- Interscapular/thoracic pain and stiffness
- Lower back pain
- Muscular tension throughout the shoulder girdle
- Wrist, forearm or elbow pain
- Potential for lumbar disc irritation/bulging
What to do about it…
Many people admit they know they have poor posture, but don’t know what to do about it. This is where education becomes crucial. Correct workstation setup is very simple to teach and the most effective preventative tool we have in helping people avoid the above potentially disabling problems. A simple diagram such as the one shown here can go a long way to assisting those who come to us as doctors and physiotherapists for help…
All of our physiotherapists at The Physio Nook are well trained and experienced in educating patients about workstation setup, postural corrective exercises and of course manual therapy that will alleviate any problems that may have arisen from poor office work habits. We use a combination of soft tissue massage, trigger point release, spinal mobilisation, dry needling (acupuncture) and exercises to stretch and strengthen anti-gravity muscles as well as improving alignment when we are faced with these workers. As usual, early detection and referral for treatment is the key.
I hope this summary will help you or someone you know. As always, we are here at PhysioWorks WA to help out with any musculoskeletal disorders you may have, postural or otherwise! Feel free to call us, email, or drop in for a great service.
Paul Woodward
Principal Physiotherapist
The Physio Nook.
