Is Your Office Job Harming Your Joints? Tips for Preventing Work Injuries

Sitting all day at an office can compromise joint health, leading to several conditions like osteoarthritis and bursitis.

Office Work and Joint Problems

Research shows that sitting at your desk and using the computer all day can compromise your joint health. Office workers experience anything from neck and back pain to more severe conditions like arthritis and bursitis. If ignored, these conditions worsen and significantly impact the quality of the workers’ lives.

Common Joint Issues With Office Workers

Office workers are at risk of various joint conditions. Some of the most common ones include:

• Posture-Related Injuries: Posture-related injuries result from bad posture while working on the computer. This improper sitting leads to headaches and back, neck, arm, and shoulder pain. Slouching while sitting on the desk, with the shoulders hunched forwards, is one example of bad posture at the desk. Doing so makes the back curve unnatural, leading to joint problems.
• Osteoarthritis: Offices with poorly designed workstations put workers at risk of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage between joints deteriorates, leading to tenderness and swelling in the affected joints. It’s common with overly sedentary office workers and causes painful joints that hamper movement. 
• Bursitis: Bursitis describes the inflammation of the bursae, a small sac with fluid that lubricates the joints. Bursitis mostly affects the shoulders, hips, and elbows but can also affect the knees. Repetitive motions while typing or resting your elbows on the desk can lead to bursitis.

Tips to Prevent Joint Problems While Working Your Office Job

Working an office job doesn’t doom you to a life of joint pain and joint conditions. Taking the necessary precautions will go a long way toward preserving your joint health. Here are a few tips for doing just that:

• Keep your hips and knees at a right angle to keep your spine in a neutral position
• Avoid leaning on one side to distribute weight evenly to your hips
• Use back support to maintain a lower back curve
• Keep your feet flat on the ground
• Ensure your forearms are parallel to the ground while resting

Prioritize Your Health and Wellbeing

Although it’s important to make a living, it’s also crucial to prioritize your health over a paycheck. You can maintain healthy joints throughout your career by following the tips above. If you experience any joint pain, seek medical attention promptly to prevent it from worsening.

Are you dealing with joint problems caused by office work? You might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffman to learn how we can assist you in filing your workers’ compensation claim and obtaining the compensation you deserve.