Causes of back pain in the workplace –
Covid19 has had a significant impact on all our lives. Ireland had one of the highest rates of working from home in the EU. One of the lasting results from the pandemic is that many people have remained working from home as more businesses and companies realise it has it’s benefits. Howeer this change to working from home also meant many employees are sitting for longer periods of time. This continuous sitting for long periods means they tend to end up slumping and sinking into their lower back which in turn causes tightening of the hamstrings and shortening the hip flexors.
Working from home can now be added to the list of what causes back pain in the workplace.
Modern life and work means we are sitting for longer periods than our bodies are designed for. We spend a lot more screen time on our phones, tablets, and laptops, which has resulted in ‘text neck’. This is the term used to describe the posture formed by leaning forward and stressing muscles while using our devices. This posture often results in cervical and shoulder pain, stiffness, headaches and hunching. This increases pressure on the neck and shoulders and the lower back, closing the front of the body. As a result, there is a rounding of the shoulders, shortening and tightening to the muscles at front and back of the shoulders. Also, statistics have shown that employees working from home take fewer breaks and work longer hours.
Work than involves long periods of standing or bending and lifting heavy objects can have as equally a detrimental effect on back, neck and shoulders.