HEALTH & WELLNESS

Working from Home Brings its Own Set of Pains…More People Than Ever Before Are Suffering from Neck and Back Issues

Provided by Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center

The pandemic has accelerated a work-from-home trend; it’s estimated 25% of U.S. workers are now working from home. Unfortunately, since the pandemic began, 39% of workers are having more low back pain and 46% are having more neck and upper back pain. These are the findings from a recent study shared in the Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. The good news is you don’t have to live with the discomfort. Jason Williams is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Outpatient Therapy at Sentara Therapy Center in Dumfries. Dr. Williams shares some tips to help with those aches and pains.

What kind of changes in your patients have you noticed since the working-from-home trend has accelerated?

A lot more patients with neck and back pain can’t recall a specific injury. Not having a great workspace at home is leading to more chronic overuse injuries. Folks are moving less due to the work-from-home trend and it’s affecting their quality of life.

What can these professionals do for themselves to prevent back and neck pain?

Here are my top five tips for professionals working from home: n Take active breaks (get up and move) every 20 minutes. n Create a dedicated workspace; avoid working on the couch or bed.

n Perform some simple stretches and exercises a couple times a day. n Make healthier diet choices. Your diet 100% affects how you feel. n Make exercise a priority. Aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week.

How does someone know it’s time to seek care at Sentara Therapy Center for their back and/or neck pain?

Here are some warning signs you should pay attention to: n Discomfort is becoming more frequent or constant. n Your pain is getting worse. n Pain is affecting your ability to enjoy free time. n Home treatments aren’t helping.

What can a chiropractor do to help someone overcome their back and neck pain and prevent it from returning?

Chiropractors are experts in diagnosing and treating spinerelated conditions and providing safe movement-based treatments that are non-drug and non-surgical. They address the root cause of your neck and back pain, so you can recover and prevent it from returning. Don’t let neck and back pain slow you down. To learn more about Sentara Therapy Center and schedule your appointment, call 1-855-852-9066 or visit sentara.com/therapy.