You don’t have to be an ironworker or a lumberjack to be at risk for back injury on your job. Every occupation, however physically undemanding it seems, carries the potential for back injury. Even office work can pose problems. A physically intense job might put a person at greater risk for a serious accident, but the sedentary practice of sitting at a desk all day brings its own set of physical concerns.

Hunching over a keyboard or over paperwork all day can put considerable stress on a person’s back, particularly if one does not constantly remind oneself of maintaining good posture. Add a long commute at each end of the work day and you have another ingredient in the recipe for back trouble. Some studies have shown that office workers, as a group, are less likely to seek treatment for back pain because they’re simply resigned to the situation as part of the job.

You can help prevent back pain at the office by making sure your chair is adjusted properly. You should be leaning back at an angle of at least 110 degrees. And make sure your computer screen is at eye level so you’re not bending your neck constantly as you look at it. And force yourself to get up periodically and walk around. Talk with your chiropractor about ways you can work in some exercises at the office to help protect your back.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com