st judes clinic articles
Are You Sitting Correctly?
Nowadays, many of us spend a large proportion of our working day sat at the computer. If we do not sit properly, use correctly positioned furniture and equipment or take regular breaks, this can lead to a variety of problems. Headaches, neck and back pain, and pain in the arms and hands often referred to as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) can all occur.
The ever increasing popularity of laptop computers is further compounding these problems. A recent survey indicated that 50% of 16-24 year-olds were suffering from back pain, compared with 18% 3 years ago.
This article aims to provide you with a few useful tips to make sitting more comfortable and reduce your chances of developing problems.
- Ensure your low back is supported - if your chair doesn't have lumbar support, try rolling up a small towel and placing in the arch of your lower back.
- Try to adjust the angle of your seat so your hips are slightly higher than your knees.
- Your forearms should be parallel to the floor, so adjust your desk height accordingly and use a footrest if needed.
- Your eyes should be level with the top of your display screen, which should be straight in front of you if possible.
- Do not wedge the telephone between your ear and shoulder. Consider using a headset if using the telephone for long periods of the day.
- Place your mouse within easy reach and support your forearm on the desk.
- Do not sit for too long - stand up and stretch every 20 minutes or so.
If you feel you may need more individual advice, St Judes does now offer an Ergonomic and Workplace Assessment service, which is run by one of our Chartered Physiotherapists, who specialises in this field.
Or if you are suffering from aches & pains, any one of our team of Chartered Phyiotherapists would be pleased to speak to you.