Health & Fitness
What Is Your Office Doing To Your Health?
Sitting and staring at a screen all day isn't ideal. Here are practical tips to improve your working situation.
This Patch article is sponsored by Banner Health.
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Working in an office might not be as dangerous as roofing or transporting cargo, but spending too much time at a desk can have lasting negative effects on your health.
Dr. Clifford Jones, an orthopedic surgeon at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, has witnessed firsthand the consequences of our society becoming more and more sedentary. Fortunately, Dr. Jones has some practical tips on how to make office life work for you.
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1. Get an adjustable computer stand.
Sitting is not the new smoking, but too much time on your bum can increase your risk of high blood pressure, anxiety and obesity. To combat this, Dr. Jones recommends switching to an adjustable computer stand that allows you to work from a standing position for at least a portion of the day.
According to Dr. Jones, about one-third of the staff in his office use adjustable computer stands. They've noticed a big difference in their comfort, alertness and overall productivity.
2. Stretch your feet, and wear comfortable shoes at work.
Dr. Jones regularly sees patients with foot pain, which is often the result of tight heel cords from sitting too long and not stretching. Chronic foot pain can also be caused by wearing high-heeled shoes.
Do your feet a favor and stretch them throughout the day. You might also want to consider wearing comfortable shoes with proper support at the office. Save the stilettos for those big meetings outside of the everyday office grind.
3. Make sure your computer monitor is set to the appropriate height.
A lot of people wind up with chronic back, shoulder and neck pain from not sitting or standing properly while using their computers. That's why Dr. Jones says it's important to have your computer screen set to an appropriate height. You should never be staring up at a screen or hunched over looking downward.
4. Try to spend less time staring down at your phone.
We know it's tempting to text under your desk, but you might want to limit the amount of time you spend hunched over and staring down at a screen. Dr. Jones has noticed a lot more young people suffering from neck and back injuries, and it's often the result of habitually staring down at their mobile devices.
5. Exercise!
In addition to the standard "get up, and move around" advice office workers usually receive, Dr. Jones recommends doing isometric exercises for your core and McKenzie exercises for your lower back and neck throughout the day. Even just pumping your foot and stretching your calves is an improvement over sitting stagnantly for 8 hours each day.
If you are experiencing pain or chronic discomfort, talk to your primary care provider. They can help pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and implement a plan to help you feel better.
Banner Health also offers complete and comprehensive orthopedic care to keep you in the game and get you back to your highest level of mobility. If you're dealing with an injury or suffering from chronic pain, they've got you covered.
Find a Banner Health Orthopedics Location Near You
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