Working From Home Injuries To Avoid – Art of Healthy Living

During this past year, people across the UK had to start working from home due to Covid-19. While working from home had benefits – no long commutes, more flexibility, and comfy clothes, it also came with difficulties. Many struggled to adjust and create a suitable environment to work in. There are certain risk factors you should be aware of when working from home. In this article we will look at how to avoid those working from home injuries.

Back Pain

Claims and Medical Negligence specialists found that the most common work from injury was back pain. With 1 in 4 home workers (27%) suffering. This can be caused by sitting at a desk for too long, not having the right kind of chair, or poor posture. The data collected revealed that chairs made a huge difference in at home injuries. Half the injuries reported involved a chair in some way. So getting a supportive chair can make you feel more comfortable, as well as reduce your risk of back pain.

Neck Pain

The right kind of chair could also help with neck pain. This was another injury people working from home complained about. It’s not only your office set-up that can reduce your risk. You’ll be sitting down for long periods of time so you want to do what you can to help your body. What are your shoulders doing right now? They’re probably tense and raised. This can have knock-on effects, including your neck. There are shoulder exercises you can try to help make yourself less tense. If you are concerned about any injuries, please seek medical advice.

Eye Strain

Another common injury for those working from home was eye strain. From looking at the computer for hours at a time to switching between phone and television screens. There are things you can do to reduce your eyestrain. A popular technique is the 20, 20, 20 rule. After you’ve looked at a screen for 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away (6 meters) for 20 seconds. This can give your eyes a chance to rest and recharge. If you think you might forget, you could set a reminder on your phone.

Repetitive Strain

Those working from home also reported repetitive strain injuries (RSI). This can be caused by using a mouse or typing on a keyboard too much. You can take steps to reduce your RSI. You can take short, regular, breaks to stretch your muscles. Similar to eye strain, you could set up reminders so you remember to stretch. Plus some people with RSI said that exercise in their daily routine can help reduce their symptoms.

When working from home it’s important to take care of yourself and create conditions you’re comfortable working in. Even small changes can make a difference with your health. What’s your experience of working from home been like?

*collaborative post