With the current situation of having to stay indoors, many of us are spending additional time on our computer, phone or watching TV, consequently lots of us are suffering with neck and back pain!
The lack of activity and movement as well as bad posture puts our back and neck under a great deal of stress. Sitting and poor posture causes us up to twice as much pressure on the discs on the spine as standing!
What can you do?
Be aware of your Posture: Leaning forward or being hunched over can weaken your back muscles. Try and sit as straight as possible in a relaxed position with your bottom against the seat back and your weight distributed evenly.
Computer at the right height: Make sure your screen is level with your eyebrows, your chair is comfy, your knees are lower than your hips and your feet are on the floor. Try to limit the time you work on your laptop or tablet away from a desk as this encourages poor posture, which is particularly bad for your neck.
Regular Breaks: If possible take a break every 30 minutes to move and stretch. If you can’t do this change position and then do some simple stretches at your desk/table or massage the back of your head and neck.
Exercise: I always tell my clients to think of a cat. What is the first thing it does after a doze?….Have a good stretch. First thing in the morning, whilst still in bed, have a good old stretch! Try and exercise regularly to keep your joints and muscles healthy and mobile.
I am a member of BackCare a charity aimed at reducing the impact of back pain on society. BackCare have lots of helpful factsheets and advice you can read and download. (http://backcare.org.uk/).
