Is Your Desk Job Killing You?
We often thing that construction workers, landscapers, civil engineers and many other \"physically active\" jobs can be really hard on the neck, back and other joints but what about people who sit at desks all day? Sitting and doing computer work for most of your work day can cause a lot of problems in the neck, upper to mid back and lower back…not to mention the wrists and hips! On top of that being relatively sedentary is not for your heart, your circulation and other body systems. Hours of repetitious work with little other movement can cause muscle imbalances and joint dysfunction which can lead to spinal degeneration and other problems such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Sitting for long stints can cause a build-up of fluid in your legs as the body\'s natural \"pumping mechanism\" which is activated by movement is turned off. If your job requires a lot of desk work there are a lot of things that Dr. Barrett at Barrett Family Chiropractic in Woodlawn can do to help. Give us a call at 410-265-9911 and get the ball rolling.
If you have a desk job, creating an ergonomic work environment should be your top priority. Having your computer monitor too high or too low can cause neck and upper back pain very quickly. Resist the urge to just push through and deal with the pain. At Barrett Family Chiropractic in Woodlawn, MD, Dr. Barrett can help you understand what changes you can make to improve your work area. Your chair should allow your feet to be flat on the floor with your thighs parallel to the floor to minimize pressure to the nerves, joints and muscles in your lumbopelvic area and in your hips and thighs. A chair with a seat that raises and lowers or the addition of a small foot stool can help tremendously. You should also have a chair with adjustable height arm rests…we are not all built the same! If your arm rests are too high you may hunch your shoulders and not give your neck and upper back muscles a chance to properly lengthen and relax. If the arm rests are too low they will offer you no support and you will be reaching forward to write or type and the weight of your arms will pull down on your neck and upper to mid back causing severe dysfunction in no time. Proper arm placement is also important when trying to avoid Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Wrist placement is crucial and keeping the pressure off of the backs of your thighs will help improve circulation. Keep that monitor in a position that will keep your eyes level to the horizon.
Tips For Desk Workers in Woodlawn MD
One of the best things you can do is get a high/low or standing desk. These are starting to make their way into the work place as employers realize that by spending a little more on the physical work space their employees will remain happier and healthier. This means employees will miss less time from work and they will be more productive. See if your place of work has a program offering any ergonomic enhancements for those who need it. At Barrett Family Chiropractic we can help evaluate your work environment and make suggestions to you. Often a letter with these suggestions and requirements can be presented from us to your employer\'s human resources department so that they consider making some accommodations for you.
Dr. Barrett and the Staff at Barrett Family Chiropractic are here to help. Call us at 410-265-9911. Our convenient location near the Social Security Administration in Woodlawn, Maryland allows us to reach out to and help many office workers so that they can regain and maintain good spinal health. Good spinal health will improve your overall health. Who wouldn\'t want that?
