Over the past few months many of us have had to adjust to working from home due to Covid-19. With most of us now accustomed to the change and making the most of working from home, we may not realise the effect this change in the working environment is having on our bodies – you may be noticing aches and pains you never experienced before! This could be due to your at-home set up, which may not be beneficial for your back and shoulders.
Whether you’re sat at the kitchen table or slumped over in bed for 8 hours a day, chances are it’s having a negative impact on your body. Read on for the best working from home tips and how to treat muscular pain!
How is working from home affecting my body?
- Your neck and shoulders are likely to be causing you the most pain. If this is the case, your posture and the way you are looking at your screen may be the issue. Bad posture and back pain often come hand in hand
- When you’re staring at a computer screen for long periods of time, you’re making your eyes work harder. This can lead to digital eye strain which often consists of headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain
- If your hips feel tight, this may be due to your back not being positioned correctly. Your back is actually supposed to recline 15 to 20 degrees to keep your hips open
- Leg cramps are due to poor circulation and the ache you’re often feeling is your body telling you that you’re not working with good posture
- If your hands and wrists are sore and aren’t in a neutral position, it puts more strain on the tendons that go through the structure in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. This can result in carpal tunnel syndrome.
What can I do to fix it?
- Try positioning the monitor at eye level so your neck and shoulders are in a neutral position. If you’re working with a laptop, try placing the laptop on a table or desk that is preferably at elbow height
- Take frequent breaks away from the screen as well as seeking natural light throughout the day
- Recline your seat if your chair is adjustable and if it’s not, make sure to get up frequently and keep moving around
- Promote good circulation in your legs by adjusting the height of your chair so that your feet are flat on the ground. Alternatively, you could use a footrest!
- Keep your wrists flat and straight so they are not bent left or right.
You could try using muscle recovery equipment such as massage tools like a massage gun to also help ease the effects of working from home.
The Pulseroll vibrating recovery massage tools work well all over the body, including the hands and feet. The vibration technology gets deep into the muscle and repairs damaged tissue as well as improving circulation. This can have many benefits such as increasing flexibility and mobility, as well as easing pain and soreness.
Using massage tools can be a great way to ease any aches and pains that you are experiencing since working from home. Check out the full range of vibrating recovery tools in our shopping hub.
