The rise of remote work has become a prevailing trend in recent years, with many employees choosing to work from the comfort of their own homes. However, the convenience of working from home comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining proper posture and ergonomics. Prolonged periods of sitting in poorly designed workspaces can lead to a myriad of health issues. While many work-from-home employees are prone to the complications associated with poor ergonomics, commuting office workers are also at risk of suffering the consequences of bad posture and poor ergonomics. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the main issues caused by bad posture and poor ergonomics for work-from-home employees and delve into how physical therapy and massage therapy can offer effective solutions to manage side effects and alleviate pain.

The Impact of Bad Posture and Poor Ergonomics

Back and Neck Pain

One of the most common side effects of poor ergonomics is back and neck pain. Slouching or hunching over a computer for hours can strain the muscles and lead to discomfort and even chronic pain. Back and neck pain caused by other issues can also be exacerbated by poor posture. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Poor ergonomics doesn’t just apply to your desk chair. Having an improperly positioned keyboard and mouse can potentially lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, causing pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and wrists.

Muscle Tension

Bad posture can cause muscles to become tense and fatigued, leading to discomfort and reducing overall flexibility. In addition to the physical pain, muscle tension can also lead to increased stress.

Digestive Issues

Sitting for extended periods with poor posture can also impact digestion and lead to discomfort or gastrointestinal issues. It’s important to incorporate movement into your day whenever possible!

How Physical Therapy Can Help With Bad Posture

Posture Assessment

Physical therapists can assess your posture and provide personalized recommendations to improve it. They can also teach exercises to strengthen the muscles that support good posture. Physical therapists can also see if you have any weak areas that are exacerbating issues caused by bad posture and ergonomics. They can provide additional guidance on how to create an ergonomic workspace and best practices to provide relief to different areas of the body. 

Customized Exercise Programs

Physical therapists can design exercise programs tailored to your needs, focusing on strengthening core muscles and improving flexibility to counteract the effects of poor posture. If poor posture is intensifying pain from an existing issue, your physical therapist can work with you to find and treat the sources of that pain as well. Additionally, if you just started a new work-from-home job and are worried about experiencing pain in the future, your physical therapist can help you start strengthening those muscles and providing ergonomic guidance for your office space so that you can skip over the pain entirely!

How Massage Therapy Can Help With Bad Posture

Muscle Relaxation

Massage therapy is a great tool to help deal with the physical repercussions not only of bad posture but also of mental and emotional stress. Massage helps relax tense muscles, releases knots, and reduces pain and discomfort associated with poor posture and being tense.

Improved Blood Circulation

Massages can also improve blood circulation. Improved circulation allows for improved delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas of the body which in turn promotes faster healing and recovery.

Stress Reduction 

Most jobs innately come with a certain level of stress. Add on working in a less-than-ideal ergonomic setup, you’re bound to be experiencing mental and physical stress. Massage therapy can help reduce stress and tension in the body which can improve your overall mental well-being.

Where Can I Find A Physical Therapist Or Massage Therapist Near Me?

At Advanced Kinetics Physical Therapy we offer physical therapy services whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, working to prevent an injury, recovering from surgery, or looking to improve mobility! We also offer massage therapy services to help improve the health of your mind and body! Massage is a great treatment to try whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, suffering from anxiety and depression, are looking to recover from an injury, or just need some quiet time to relax! These services are available at our locations in Falls Church and McLean, Virginia. If you’re interested in learning more about how our physical therapists and massage therapists can help you, please get in touch with us!