Deadly Desk Work - Advice from an Osteopath

UK researchers have found what Osteopaths already know - that desk workers are spending a whooping 10 hours a day sitting sedentary at work and around half of workers don’t even leave their desks at lunchtime. Scientists claim that these ‘mis-spent’ hours are increasing workers risks of obesity and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Osteopaths would argue that it was just plain painful. Sitting stationary is officially, ‘hazardous to health’!

Reports from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) state that stress and back pain are the most common reasons for sick leave in the UK. Being stationary at a desk for 10 plus hours puts compressive stress on our spine and demands a lot from our postural muscles, causing them to eventually tire and causing us to slump. Even the most expensive office furniture cannot save us from poor posture and discomfort when spending hours in the one position, we need to move!

Osteopath Tim Allardyce from Croydon explains "there is loads of advice out there for office workers, from getting up and moving around regularly to positioning your monitor at the right height."

Tim has recently produced a new video (that will soon be available to view online) giving advice on correct office ergonomics.  Tim was approached by the NHS and the Department of Health to produce a series of advice videos to help alleviate musculo-skeletal pain.  His latest offering will be the sixth in the series (3 of which are available at You Tube). So far the series contains information and advice on; the back, the knee, the hip, the shoulder, the shoulder post surgery and now office ergonomics.

On a final note; if your too busy to leave your desk during the working day, why not make the most of your time sitting down by plugging in the latest piece of office equipment…‘the power stepper’. Sitting under your desk and plugged into your PC, this stepper powers your mouse and keyboard, so if you stop stepping, they stop working!

Tim Allardyce is an osteopath and physiotherapist at ‘Croydon Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Sports Injury Clinic’. For appointments, please call 0845 680 0615.

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Tags : back pain, ergonomics, knee, muscle, nhs, physiotherapist, posture, shoulder, spine, stress

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