Many of us try and lead the healthiest lifestyle possible by eating right and participating in some
form of physical activity, however, office-based workers may find they have aches and pains
before even doing physical activity. This is normally due to the fact the majority of their times is
being spent seated at a desk with poor posture, unsupportive seating and ineffectively set up
workstations.

What kind of impact does office based working have on my body?

Many people who are office based and do not have the correct preventative measures in place
can often suffer from a multitude of symptoms such as headaches, neck and shoulder stiffness
or pain, rounded shoulders and lower back pain.

Rounded shoulders can also be a sign of upper crossed body syndrome. Upper crossed body
syndrome is when opposing muscles aren’t working together to maintain the body’s correct
posture. Tightness and weakness in opposing muscles cause an in-balance which can increase
the risk of injury and can cause pain and discomfort. Tightness in the pecs, upper trapezius and
levator scapula muscles can cause the shoulders to become tight and rounded to the front,
giving a hunched over appearance. Weakness in the neck flexors, lower trapezius and serratus
anterior mean they are incapable of holding the shoulder and neck in the correct position.

 Lower crossed body syndrome can present itself in many
ways such as lower back pain, hip and back stiffness and can also cause a pelvic tilt. This is also due to opposing muscle imbalances as shown below.

Being sedentary for long periods of time not only has an adverse effect
on your muscles but it can affect your entire body. Sedentary lifestyles can increase your risk of strokes, obesity, heart attacks and diabetes, therefore, even if you feel like you don’t currently have pain or stiffness your body may still be suffering from long periods of being seated at a desk.

Headaches are a common complaint office-based workers have and this can be caused by a
number of reasons such as glare from the computer screen, eye strain, upper trapezius tension
or poor neck posture. Headaches can remain present long after work has finished and it is
important to find the cause of recurring headaches.

What can I do to overcome the effects being seated at work all day has on my body?

Our working environment is where we spend most of our time, therefore, it is important we take
care of our bodies during our working hours as well as our free time. There are many ways in
which you can prevent or recover from the effects of being sedentary during working hours.
Remembering to take breaks away from your desk regularly, performing light exercises at work
and opting for an adjustable desk that allows you to change from seated to standing throughout
the working day are just a few examples of small changes you can make which will have a
benefit on your body.

Physical activity is a great place to start to help with the painful manifestations resulting from a
sedentary job, however, a more specialised approach is also needed. Firstly, knowing what
intervention you need is paramount. People benefit from different treatments such as:

Our specialists will be able to ascertain which treatment method would be most beneficial for
you to enable you to live a pain-free lifestyle.

If you would like more information about what you can do to overcome pain and stiffness
caused by a seated working environment keep checking our facebook page as we will be
posting self-help tips. Alternatively, please feel free to get in touch with us and one of our
specialists will be more than happy to help.