Working long hours at a desk can be hard on your back. A job that requires you to sit in front of a computer screen raises your risk of developing lower back and neck pain, headaches, and stress—particularly if you have poor posture or use a chair with insufficient lumbar support.

While improving your posture and the ergonomics of your workstation can help prevent discomfort, many office workers seek chiropractic care to relieve neck, shoulder, and back pain. Chiropractic care is an effective and safe treatment that offers a number of benefits for office workers who experience pain and discomfort.

Improve your posture to relieve back pain

Poor posture is the main cause of lower back and neck pain. Sitting hunched over in the same position all day without moving puts excessive pressure on your spine and can lead to nerve damage and misaligned vertebrae that cause musculoskeletal pain and discomfort.

Follow these tips to decrease stress on your lower back and practice good sitting posture:

  • Keep your hips, knees, and ankles all at a 90-degree angle
  • Rather than leaning forward, keep your head and neck directly over your shoulders
  • Rest your feet flat on the floor
  • Avoid crossing your legs
  • If your chair is too high, use a footrest

A chiropractor can offer more tips to improve your posture. In addition, chiropractic care is an effective way to relieve back pain by properly aligning your spine.

Adjust your office chair to support your lower back

If you sit at a desk for long periods of time, take steps to improve the ergonomics of your workstation and keep your computer screen at or slightly below eye level. Looking up or down at a monitor for long periods of time can strain your neck, back, and shoulders.

Adjust the height of your chair so your feet rest flat on the floor and your thighs are parallel to the floor. Most important, use a comfortable chair with lumbar support that fits against your lower back. If your chair doesn’t offer proper lumbar support, place a small pillow or rolled up towel behind your lower back. Also, remove your wallet from your back pocket to avoid putting extra pressure on your buttocks.

Consider the health benefits of using a standing desk

In addition to being hard on your back, spending too much time sitting at a desk can increase your risk for obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. A standing desk allows you to switch your position throughout the day, which can improve your posture and help prevent shoulder and back pain. Plus, standing burns more calories than sitting, gets your blood flowing, and helps you stay focused.

Whether you use a standing desk or prefer to sit, it’s important to change your position often. Get up and walk around at least once an hour to stretch your muscles and relieve tension.

Benefits of chiropractic care for office workers

Even if you practice good posture and arrange your workspace correctly, regular chiropractic appointments to realign your spine can improve your productivity at work. Chiropractic care for back pain is an effective and safe treatment that offers a number of benefits for office workers who experience discomfort.

Reduce pain. Chiropractic care is a natural approach to pain relief without the need for medications that often make you less productive and focused at work. While medications mask pain symptoms, chiropractic care seeks to identify and fix the source of your discomfort. A chiropractor can realign your spine to reduce or remove the underlying causes of your neck and back pain.

Improve your work productivity. If you experience back pain while sitting at your desk, it can be challenging to focus on work. Your chiropractor will create a personalized treatment plan that identifies the source of your pain and gets to the root of the problem. Chiropractic care can help enhance your productivity, boost your energy, and improve your overall performance at work.

In addition to treating back pain, chiropractic care seeks to protect your overall health and wellbeing.

What to expect when you visit the chiropractor

Chiropractors use natural remedies and non-invasive treatments tailored to your lifestyle to relieve chronic aches and pains. Treatments may include hands-on manipulation, massage, electrical stimulation, or other techniques to adjustment the spine and neck.

Properly aligning your musculoskeletal system relieves any compressed or pinched vertebrae and nerves that cause pain and discomfort. While realigning your spine may offer immediate relief, your chiropractor may recommend stretches and exercises to strengthen your back, neck, and abdominal muscles.

Schedule an appointment with a chiropractor for lower back pain

Spending most of the day seated at a desk—particularly if you have poor posture or sit in a chair with insufficient back support—can lead to back, shoulder, and neck pain. Dr. Andrea’s Chiropractor Care is here to provide the treatment you need to be productive at work. Whether you’re looking for ways to improve your posture or are seeking relief from chronic pain, contact Dr. Andrea today or call us at 918-364-2225 to schedule an appointment.