SOMA Living May 2022

FROM THE DOCTOR WHY IS WORKING AT HOME CAUSING ME NECK AND BACK PROBLEMS? Did you know that since the increase in the number of Americans working from home, the incidence of office workplace pain and injury has also increased immensely? In one study by the American Chiropractic Association, 92 percent of chiropractors said that patients were reporting more neck pain, back pain, or other musculoskeletal issues even early on in the pandemic. If you’re still doing your work from home sitting on a barstool at the kitchen counter or hunched over on your couch, even if it’s only a couple of days per week, it’s time to make some updates to your remote work setup. To create an ergonomic workspace, consider your head position, arm position, back position, and ensure regular movement. Your work setup should allow you to keep your head and spine in a neutral position, so you may need to prop your computer screen up so it is at eye level. The ideal position for your arms is at 90 degrees with your shoulders resting downward (not hunched up towards your ears). An external keyboard and an ergonomic mouse are helpful. Your feet should be touching the floor (resting on a stack of books or a footstool) and your back should be supported (you can use a lumbar pillow or small cushion) and your head is over your neck and shoulders. Visit our web site for a short video on ergonomics and exercises to do while seated to counteract poor seated postures. (southorangechiropractic.com) Finally, it’s important to take regular breaks to move. Try to include short “micro-breaks” where you simply change your posture for a moment, as well as longer breaks of several minutes to stretch your shoulders, walk around the house, or practice some deep breathing. Of course, daily exercise is also important for our overall health. Take a morning and afternoon bike ride with some of the time you used to spend commuting. Starting and ending the workday with exercise is not only great for our physical well-being, it also helps signal a transition for our brain between “work” and “home”, so we can maintain a healthy boundary between the two. If months of working from a kitchen chair have you experiencing neck, back, or shoulder pain that’s affecting your quality of life, book an appointment with our chiropractic team today.

Meet the Natural Pain Relievers at South Orange Chiropractic Center Moving people from pain to wellness. Dr. Stephen Levine • Dr. Mark Roczey • Dr. Mark Sielski 60 First Street, South Orange, NJ 07079 973-761-0022 Go to SouthOrangeChiropractic.com to download our FREE E-book on Health and Wellness

Stephen Levine D.C. South Orange Chiropractic Center SouthOrangeChiropractic.com Phone: 973.761.0022 Email: Docdad230@aol.com

MAY 2022 | SOMA LIVING 17

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