In the midst of a pandemic, an additional cause for concern is an increase of neck and low back pain from prolonged periods of sitting. In some cases it could present as numbness or tingling in your hands or feet. We have seen a rise in problems like these because a large portion of the population is either working from home or furloughed.
Here is where your posture comes into play. Realistically, it is very daunting to keep perfect positioning when sitting or standing. That’s why I like our patients to be more aware of taking breaks throughout the day to “break their habit". Just by looking up, stretching your arms up to the ceiling or even standing can give your body the change it needs.
Post Its or even setting alarms on your smart phone/watch are simple things you can do to remind yourself. These options allow you to carry on with your day while still taking the appropriate amount of time to make the necessary adjustments.
Your work station or preferred sitting habits can also use an assessment and that’s where a physical therapist can come in handy. A simple evaluation and some helpful changes for your set up can help reduce the occurrences of neck and back pain. Also, a little exercise can go a long way in reducing pain and help knock off some of that Covid 20!