How to Work from Home Without Hurting Your Back

How to Work from Home Without Hurting Your Back

While makeshift workstations may meet basic needs as so many people work from home due to the pandemic, most fail to provide sound ergonomic design, according to researcher April Chambers.


People are creating makeshift workspaces from their dining room tables, kitchen counters, living room couches, or folding tables and chairs.


As a result, Chambers, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education who specializes in occupational ergonomics and bioengineering, expects a steep rise in the number of people who are experiencing pain or discomfort in their neck, back, or shoulders. Unchecked, the pain can develop into long-term musculoskeletal injuries.


“At least one-third of workers report musculoskeletal discomfort and injuries when they are in a normal office environment with a desk and a chair. You can imagine it will be much higher in our current climate,” says Chambers.


She says people can take several basic actions to make their home workstation more comfortable and reduce injury potential.


The best practices are built on research, as well as recommendations from the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).


The Right Posture


First and foremost, Chambers advises people working from home to focus on improving their posture, both in how they sit or stand and in how their work station is designed. The ideal posture is a neutral posture since it places the least strain on the joint ..

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