Neck Injury

Most of the time when you hear about ergonomics you think of how we can organise an office to suit our bodies. Sometimes we can still get pain with the perfect set up. So what can cause this?

Firstly, our bodies were designed to move. So one of the best things we can do to is to stretch and take a break. A good guideline is to stretch in the opposite direction to your work posture for one minute for every half an hour of work. For example, if you are sitting it might be good to stand or walk around. Also, people who have an active lifestyle outside of work cope better with a sedentary job and recover quicker if something goes wrong.

Secondly, check your posture. Even the best chair won’t stop you from slouching if you really want to. Bad posture will strain our ligaments and joints and overload our muscles. Holding our heads in a forwards position is highly linked to neck pain and headaches. A flat back can cause a back ache. In a good posture the low back curves in, the upper back curves out and our ears are vertically aligned with our shoulders. In a good posture our core muscles automatically fire up to protect our backs. Think of it as a free workout.

This time of year I also see more people with injuries from getting active at home, such as digging in the garden. Sitting may seem like a rest, but it can really aggravate some injuries. If you do have persistent symptoms anywhere in your body then you may need further advice or help.