Is your desk job making you ill?

Research has shown that one in five of us are diagnosed with work-related health issues borne out of poorly designed office furniture. These issues can range from headaches, stress and musculoskeletal problems affecting the back, neck and shoulders. The pain and psychological distress experienced often leads to periods of absences from work and reduced productivity, impacting on both the employee and the employer.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

One of the more common work-related injuries we treat is Repetitive Strain Injury which causes pain in the muscles, nerves and tendons. As per its name, it is a strain as a result of continuous repetitive movements and usually affects the upper body, specifically the wrists, hands, elbows, neck and shoulders.

Early symptoms of RSI, include:

  • Tenderness
  • Aching pain
  • Stiffness
  • Weakness
  • Tingling

If left unchecked, the minor discomfort experienced with RSI can become more troublesome, leading to swelling and longer-lasting increased levels of pain.

It may come as a surprise to learn that a few adjustments to the working environment can significantly reduce the likelihood of these work-related injuries. Research published by The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors stated, that by engaging in effective office ergonomics intervention, you could significantly lessen musculoskeletal problems, and reduce lost workdays by 88 per cent.

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is defined as an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely. In other words, ergonomics is all about making sure the tasks, equipment and the working environment fit with the employee. Investing in an ergonomics evaluation.

To evaluate ergonomics, we look at the following:

  • Posture
  • Desk height & layout
  • Lighting (natural and artificial)
  • Noise levels
  • Temperature
  • Movements (standing, sitting, lighting)

How Physit can help

We will arrange for a Physiotherapist to come to your workplace.

We will conduct a full assessment to understand more about your symptoms, lifestyle and any aggravating factors, such as ergonomics in your workplace. Physically, we will examine your posture, gait and range of movement to diagnose the source of your pain or discomfort. From here, a treatment programme will be designed and tailored to address your exact symptoms. This may include self-management exercises or hands-on therapy, including joint mobilisation and soft tissue release.

We can offer advice on how to improve ergonomics, for example, maintaining a neutral posture position and teach you how to correctly sit at your desk to minimise strain and stress on the body.

We provide specialist help to reduce pain and improve comfort in the working environment. To avail of specialist physiotherapy in South West London, give us a call.