SORE NECK AND SHOULDERS AFFECTING YOUR LIFE? For the past few days you’ve had discomfort in your shoulder blades and pain in your upper back that creeps into your neck. It intensifies during the work day and simple heads movements such as putting on your shirt or fixing your hair can aggravate the pain. Back pain is not only very common, it is the chronic complaint of the working professional. More specifically, tension in the shoulder region that is recurrent can prevent you from concentrating and it is largely due to your working posture.
Proper ergonomics is a key factor in preventing this type of discomfort. Keep your feet on the ground, knees at a 90° degree angle and your back resting against your chair. Elbows should be placed on your armrests at a 90° angle with forearms resting on your desk. Your screen should be facing you with keyboard and mouse close by. Small details that seem trivial can impact your health and your body in a significant way. Even though ergonomics plays an important role in maintaining your well-being, it is still essential that you get up at least every hour to stretch your legs and avoid the muscle tension caused by poor posture. Get a glass of water, make your photocopies, walk to a colleague’s desk instead of calling or simply stand up and stretch while taking deep breaths inflating your abdomen and chest. Lastly, strengthen your body to avoid recurrent back pain! It’s not easy to maintain perfect posture during long workdays but regular physical activity with help strengthen your muscles and give your joints the stability they need.
Contact Anne-Julie Charron ( ajcharron@clubmansfield.ca ) for more information. www.clubmansfield.ca