How to Improve Your Posture When You Work From Home, According to a Chiropractor
Let’s face it: Working from home can be a pain in the neck—trust me, I should know. As someone with chronic back pain, I’m all too familiar with spending my days in excruciating pain if I moved the wrong way during a workout class or slept in a weird position. Ever since I started working from home, I’ve encountered more back and neck pain, as well as debilitating headaches that the strongest ibuprofen can’t cure.
I know I’m not the only one dealing with a lot of back pain. If you’re spending your days slumped on your couch or hunched over your computer, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing some discomfort. According to Keiko Finnegan, doctor of chiropractic at Kinfolk Optimal Living, sitting around the house all day can do a lot more damage than poor posture.
“Prolonged sitting is known to decrease blood flow to the brain, contributing to the likelihood of developing neurological disorders such as dementia,” she says. “Additionally, sitting weakens the muscles that hold us upright, turning off essential muscles in your low back, hips, and legs, which compromises our posture and function. The longer you sit, the more these muscles weaken. Eventually, the body starts collapsing much like a house with no foundation.”
But just because you’re working from home for the foreseeable future doesn’t mean you have to spend that time in pain. To help, Finnegan shares her expert tips for improving your posture and alleviating back pain. While you should always seek medical attention if your pain intensifies, these tips are designed to make your time at home more comfortable.