It doesn’t take a labor-intensive profession for someone to suffer from neck or back dangers at work. In fact, some of the most serious issues to affect these parts of the body occur at jobs marked not by their activity but by their inactivity. Staying in one place for a given period of time can wreak havoc on your body.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in people whose postures are not as ramrod straight as they could be. As persons work at their desks, the tendency is to slouch forward in a bid to draw closer to one’s workspace. The more focused an individual is on the task at hand, the more susceptible they are to such slouching.
Unfortunately, this can contribute to longterm neck and back issues, and it’s important that you correct any potential posture problems as soon as possible to avoid health complications. Here’s how:
[separator headline="h3" title="Keep Things On The Straight and Narrow"]The way you position your spine will have a marked effect on your neck and back health. Ideally, you want to sit up perfectly straight throughout your workday. Try sucking in your gut and pushing your shoulders back so that they are on an even keel with your hip bones.
Sitting like this is probably unnatural to many people who have grown accustomed to slouching forward. Even those with the best intentions could find themselves leaning forward as they dive into their work.
To prevent this, take a moment to identify how you’re positioned every 15 minutes or so. If you detect a slouch, roll your shoulders backward and push your back up flush against your chair.
[separator headline="h3" title="Chin Up"]
Even if your back is straight, the risk is that you’re still going to lean forward with your neck. This puts pressure on the top of your spine, and over time, it could lead to the development of malformations exhibited by a notably visible hunch.
Instead, keep your chin up. If your back is already straight, this will be easier to do. If your computer screen is lower than eye level, either adjust your chair or get in the habit of moving your eyes rather than craning your entire neck. If you open your eyes and look straight ahead, your eyeline should be on an even plane rather than canted toward the ground.
[separator headline="h3" title="Equipped For Success"]Oftentimes, these adjustments aren’t enough, and if that’s the case, then purchase products that are rated for lumbar support. The best desk chairs will actually make it feel awkward to do anything but sit up perfectly straight.
[separator headline="h3" title="No Easy Feet"]Try to keep your feet glued to the ground. When they’re moving around, one propped up on the desk, the other twirling the shoe on the end of your toe, your body has a tendency to lean every which way to account for this unstable movement. When your feet stay put on the ground, they act as an anchor for the rest of your body.
