The shift towards remote work has been increasingly prevalent with more people spending longer hours seated in front of a desk and screen. While this transition allows people more flexibility it also raises concerns for its potential impact on the musculoskeletal system.
My husband transitioned to working from home remotely at the start of the pandemic. While he initially seemed unaffected, over time he started to complain of stiffness in his neck. Much of this was due to spending 8-9 hours a day sitting at his desk. Prior to this, although he would commute to work he still had a desk facing role, so what’s changed now?
In his previous office setting, built-in breaks were more naturally incorporated. Currently the absence of walking to meetings, casual interactions with his co-workers and his daily commute have now lead him to spend longer hours at his desk. Recognizing that the lack of movement is the culprit. He started implementing breaks every 30 minutes to reduce his sitting time and adjusted his ergonomic set up. We also got him a standing desk, which allows him to easily transition between sitting and standing. This prevents spending too much time in any one position and he’s made an active effort to take his meeting while standing. Other ways to incorporate movement include setting movement reminders like an alarm, walking while talking on the phone and incorporating simple seated stretches such as seated leg lifts that can be done without leaving the desk.
So if you sit for long hours in front of the screen, remember to add some movement into your routine!
Neha Patel, PT
BSc (Kin), MSc (PT)
