Category: Spine | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Working partly or fully from the comfort of your home has a number of perks, but sedentary remote work can also be hard on your spine and whole body health. In today’s blog, we want to share some tips for keeping your spine healthy if you have a remote job.
Protecting Your Spine As A Remote Worker
Many of the health risks that you’ll face with a sedentary position are similar regardless of whether you’re in the office or at home, but there are some subtle differences that should be mentioned so that you can keep your spine health in mind if you work from home on some days. Here are some of the ways to protect the health of your back if you work a remote job.
- Invest In The Right Chair – While you may not have had the best chair when you worked in the office, odds are it was at least designed to be used in an office setting. If you’re working from home, you may find yourself working from a kitchen chair, on the couch or on a deck chair on your patio. These chairs aren’t really designed to provide ample spinal support for hours on end, so consider saving a bit of your paycheck and putting it towards a supportive chair for your home office.
- Better Yet, Buy A Sit To Stand Desk – If you want to take your quest for improved spine health one step further as a remote worker, invest in a sit-to-stand workstation. Even if you’re in a perfect office chair, sitting for hours at a time will be hard on your spine and your whole body. An adaptive sit-to-stand workstation allows you to stand and sit as you see fit throughout the day, which will alleviate static stress on your spine and improve circulation.
- Exercise – Extended sitting can be detrimental to your spine health regardless of whether you work in an office or you have a remote position, but if you work from home, there’s a good chance you’re saving quite a bit of time with your commute. Commit to exercising during that time you’ve saved traveling to and from the office so that you can continue to strengthen your spine and the structures that help support it.
- Be Mindful Of Your Diet – If you work from home, you have the luxury of not needing to pack a lunch every day. On the flip side, you’re going to have to fight off the urge to run to your snack cabinet when the cravings hit. It can be easier to fall into bad eating habits when you have consistent access to food and nobody around you to judge you for sneaking a snack. Plan your meals and your snacks so that you know you’re getting healthy options every day.
- Core Workouts Off The Clock – Finally, you can protect the health of your spine when you’re on the clock by taking some simple steps during your free time. When you’re not working, dive into a workout routine that targets your core muscles, as this area plays a key role in helping to support your spine when you’re in a seated position. Stay active when you’re off the clock, even if you’re not engaging in a specific exercise routine. What you do off the clock can protect your spine when you’re working.
Minnesota Back Pain Doctor
Don’t let your hybrid or remote work schedule cause problems for your spine health. Keep these tips in mind and be sure to seek out professional assistance if a new issue develops or an old problem gets worse. For assistance in the greater Twin Cities area, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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