Tips for Avoiding Stress and Strain While Working at Your Computer Did you know that working at a computer for long periods of time can cause strain to your body? Spending significant amounts of time on the computer is normal in today’s world, though. Working adults and school children use computers for extended periods every day, and they may be putting their health at risk by engaging in some unhealthy habits. This is serious: A report published in 2015 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found an association between sitting for long periods and a greater risk for deleterious health outcomes — even for those who engaged in regular exercise! Thankfully, it is possible to develop healthier habits that reduce the risk of spinal stress and strain. Here are some practical tips you can start right away to help incorporate healthy habits at work. Set Correct Chair Height While sitting at the computer, your forearms should be positioned at a right angle to the upper arms, which should hang comfortably at the side of your body. Adjust your chair height to ensure this 90-degree angle, but also consider the angle of your wrists — they should be kept straight while Read more…
Believe it or not, too much homework can be bad for your health. But don’t worry kids, there are things you can do to ensure that homework is painless! And no, we don’t mean avoiding assignments. Though school is in session for most, it’s never too late to talk about backpack safety. This week’s blog discusses the trouble with heavy backpacks and provides tips to keep in mind when shopping for a backpack. Backpacks, Back Problems According a recent U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study, more than 75% of students ages 8-12 suffer from increasing back pain inflicted by carrying their schoolwork and supplies in backpacks or similar totes. This is no surprise considering, some of our younger elementary school students are literally carrying one third their body weight for prolonged periods of time and distance. That puts a lot of stress on a body in the midst of development. Student back injuries are now widespread. 96% of the pupils monitored regularly haul much too heavy a pack on their back. Backpack Safety Tips 1. Children should not carry backpacks that exceed more than 10% of their body weight — which translates into a 5 to 10-pound load for elementary Read more…
5 Summer Sports That Can Cause Back Pain
Summer is officially here meaning Summer sports are in season. This week’s blog discusses five sports that are known to cause back pain, so that you can protect your spine when participating in your summertime activities! 1. Football All contact sports are rough on the body, but football is especially rough. Even as a spectator, my body starts to hurt after seeing someone take a big hit. One common back injury football players are plagued with is called a stinger “a sports related injury to the nerves around the neck or shoulders.” 2. Running Running is a well-known perpetrator of back pain. Its repetitive and high impact nature will often lead to, or worsen back injuries. Why is this? Your spinal discs are your body’s shock absorbers. Similar to the shocks on a bike or car, they are susceptible to wear and tear especially, if used often and for long durations. One common type of back pain runners experience is sciatica — a shooting pain that radiates from the back into the legs. Those experiencing back pain should consult a health care professional before running to ensure the action will not aggravate the problem. 3. Golf Though golf is one Read more…