The Covid Pandemic has meant that millions of people have had to work from home with many having very little space to work from. Making sure your sitting correctly to work on your computer has been something many have not been able to achieve due to space they are working in.
According to the Coventry Telegraph 64 per cent of 18-29-year-olds have reported having back problems since the pandemic.
New research shows two-thirds of young adults are struggling with back pain since the pandemic. Check out this article on Back Pain and Posture which I wrote at the beginning of the pandemic.
What’s being referred to as ‘Covid Back‘ occurs after sitting down for too long – which we all did in lockdown. Covid Back is most likely caused from people working from home on their laptop, watching telly for longer hours at a time and sitting on the sofa to eat dinner.
A survey from www.mindyourbackuk.com asked 1,000 young adults if they had a desk and supportive chair to sit on when working from home as this is the most common cause of back pain.
Mentholatum, makers of Deep Heat and Deep Freeze, estimates back pain costs £10billion every year as four in 10 sick days are back-related.
Dr Gill Jenkins, advisor to www.mindyourbackuk.com, said: “For the six in ten Brits who have been mostly or always working from home during the pandemic and are now hybrid working, almost half don’t have constant access to a table and supportive chair during their working day.
“And unfortunately, 20 per cent have to work while sitting on a sofa or bed. This plays absolute havoc with posture and spine health.
“Caring for our backs can reduce stress and boost energy so we can live our lives to the full, without pains and aches holding us back.
Eleven per cent of people who had to work from home were given correct equipment from their employer, while 17 per cent invested in chairs themselves.
Sitting at your computer is a very important one. They say its because you have to lean forward or stretch out with your arms, both of which can cause back ache. To stop this happening they recommend that you set your keyboard so you rest your arms on the desk to use it, and your screen so that your head is straight when you look at it. My son bought me a special ergonomic key board and computer mouse for when I sit at my desk and worked out the correct height for my laptop which sits on some books and I do feel I can sit a little longer now that is right.
They also say sitting too much can cause back pain as apparently when you sit down, the load going through your discs is increased threefold so they recommend that you move regularly, ideally every 20 minutes.
Check out a previous post I wrote on Tips for Businesses & Workers To Transition out of Lockdown.
Source: Coventry Telegraph Mind Your Back Back Pain Blog
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