Working From Home? 3 Common Aches and How to Ease Them

Working from home has its perks — but a makeshift desk and long hours in one position can be hard on your body. Three of the most common complaints we see from remote workers, and simple ways to ease them:

Low back pain

Sitting for hours — especially slouched — puts steady strain on your lower back. A few things that help: sit with your hips and knees at roughly 90 degrees and your feet flat on the floor; support your lower back with a small cushion; and get up to move every 30–45 minutes. Motion is the antidote to stiffness.

Neck pain (“tech neck”)

Looking down at a laptop or phone for hours strains the neck and upper back. Try raising your screen so the top is about at eye level, keeping your shoulders relaxed rather than hunched, and taking short breaks to roll your shoulders and gently stretch.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Long stretches of typing and mousing with bent wrists can irritate the nerves in your wrist — leading to numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand. Keep your wrists straight (not bent up or down) while typing, keep your keyboard and mouse close so you’re not reaching, and pause regularly to shake out and stretch your hands.

When to see a physical therapist

These tips help with everyday strain — but if pain is persistent, getting worse, or comes with numbness, tingling, or weakness, it’s worth being evaluated. A therapist can pinpoint the cause, help relieve it, and set you up with a workspace that keeps it from coming back.

Dealing with an ache that won’t quit? Call us at (551) 401-4609 or schedule an evaluation.