With the global changes over the years, we have seen the rise in working from home. The meetings that were once always face-to-face are now emails, our interactions with co-workers are now over zoom, and our desks or cubicles are now couches or dining room tables. This change in workstation ergonomics can have detrimental impacts on your spinal health. Our necks, spine, and shoulders are all susceptible to the negative effects of incorrect sitting positions. The lack of correct sitting posture can lead to back pain., ‘text neck’, and headaches.

It is indicated that a forward head posture, colloquially referred to as ‘text neck’, can lead to neck pain, muscle tightness, as well as impacted breathing patterns and poor balance. With the current demands of working from home, this issue is particularly relevant. Here at Brisbane Posture and Performance Chiropractic, we have seen first-hand the detrimental impacts of forward head positions, and continuous incorrect seating posture.

Things to avoid while working from home

Sitting on the couch, or comfy seats maybe be appealing, but they can often lack the proper spinal supports to encourage correct postural positions. Furthermore, these comfy couches can lift your knees to a level above your hips, which can negatively impact your posture. Also, the length of time you are in a seated working position is vital to maintaining correct posture. Long periods of time spent in one position, especially an incorrect postural position, are to be avoided. The height of your at-home work setup is important. Any position that promotes a forward and down head position can lead to neck pain, and incorrect posture.

Tips to help with posture while working from home

While working from home, providing yourself with a good foundation is key. Ensuring that your desk or computer is at an appropriate height can help prevent a forward, tilted head position. This can reduce possible tension and neck pain. Likewise, when sitting, make sure that your hips are higher than your knees to assist with correct posture positioning. Finally, while working from home, it is easy to lose track of time. Ensure that you are monitoring how long you are seated for. Try to stand and move around in order to reduce the amount of time you are sitting down.

Overall, working from home has many benefits to our lives. However, it is important to monitor your postural positions while at home. Neck pain, muscle tightness, and headaches are all possible outcomes of unhealthy, incorrect sitting and postural positions. If you find yourself suffering from neck pain or postural issues, the team at Brisbane Posture and Performance Chiropractic is here to help you reclaim a healthy posture.

If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, contact our friendly team on (07) 3422 0331 or visit our website at https://brisbanepostureandperformance.com.au/