ERGONOMICS AND SITTING
Sitting has been called the disease of our time, and it’s true that inactivity is a health issue, but it’s not this alone that is contributing to back injury; it’s the length of time we’re sitting with poor posture. Poor posture is as much to blame for a sore back as lifting heavy boxes and overdoing it in the garden. Over time, having your head down staring at the phone screen or slouching with hunched shoulders will become your natural posture. Being actively aware of your posture can help keep your body in the shape it should be, and this will help keep your back safe. If you do have to sit at a desk all day, then you should have a heightadjustable chair with a well-fitting lumbar support. When you’re seated, try to keep the weight of your head directly above your neck. Your monitor should be directly in front of you, and the top of it should be no higher than your eye level. Your keyboard should be right in front of the monitor so you’re not having to twist your head or neck often.
If you’re concerned that your work space may not be right for your posture, chat to your employer. Under Worksafe guidelines, they need to minimise posture-related risk for their employees as much as is reasonably possible. OTHER TIPS FOR SEATED JOBS
Ensure that you regularly get up and move. Not so long ago, if you worked in an office and needed to speak with another person there, you’d get up and walk to them, whereas these days it often feels easier to message. Maybe it’s time to turn back the clock. If you’re working from home, find ways to take breaks from sitting. And definitely don’t try to work from the couch. As comfortable as it might be, it’s no good for your body. Phone calls are often an excuse to walk. Try walking around when you’re thinking about a problem too. Sometimes those minutes away from your desk or in motion can help you come up with all sorts
of solutions that otherwise you would have spent ages staring at the screen thinking about. BUILD BACK CARE INTO YOUR LIFE
While writing this article, I walked the room five times to take a break from sitting and, during two of those walks, I did 20 Kegels. Where could you build in some back care?
A WARNING ABOUT CRUNCHES
Crunches can sometimes do more harm than good. While they’ll help you feel the burn, they’ll do very little to actually strengthen the core ,and, done incorrectly, as many people do, they can cause neck and back injuries. Such exercises should only be done after consultation with a REPS registered exercise professional. (See www.reps. org.nz.)
Sneaker Friday is back November is Diabetes Action month in Aotearoa. At Diabetes NZ, we’re getting ready for a busy November full of events, actions, and fundraisers that the whole community can take part in. While much of this work is still in progress, we can announce that our popular Sneaker Friday will be back. The first ever Sneaker Friday took place on Friday, 19 November 2021. Through Givealittle, people were encouraged to donate $5 to Diabetes NZ to wear sneakers to work that day and to rally workmates to join you. The day was a massive success, raising over $10,000 for diabetes work, as well as raising awareness in workplaces around the country.
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DIABETES WELLNESS | Spring 2022
This year we expect the event to be even bigger – 18 November is Sneaker Friday 2022. Start thinking about how you can rally a team. See https://givealittle.co.nz/event/ sneaker-friday-2022.
