The Silent Illness of Working from Home
Post-pandemic, increasing number of staff are now hybrid or home-based working. However, many staff remain unaware of the ill impact that working from home can have on our bodies.
Working from home can have an impact on MSK conditions, otherwise known as musculoskeletal conditions. MSK conditions are responsible for 30% of GP consultations in England and this is continuing to rise.
What are MSK conditions?
MSK conditions are ailments that affect your bones, muscles and/or joints. Repetitive postures, sedentary lifestyles and bad habits, over time can become something more insidious.
Some of these more common MSK conditions are:
Headaches/migraines
Neck and shoulder tension
Back Pain
Repetitive strain injuries
How does working from home impact this?
Working from home can take its toll on MSK health, particularly affecting the shoulders, back and neck. The repetition of poor practices such as poor posture, hunching over laptops or phones and little exercise combined with sitting for prolonged periods can lead to MSK issues.
As the lines between a healthy work-life balance continue to blur, more and more people are continuing a cycle of potential MSK risk.
How do we prevent this?
A conscious effort needs to be put into preventing an upsurge of MSK conditions.
We need to be cautious with the way we look after our employees at work. Some ways to prevent MSK conditions and educate employees are through:
Training: discussions about MSK and training from professionals will give people the chance to look at MSK in a new light, and hopefully, encourage them to make a change.
Proper equipment: many people don’t have the right working from home setup. Instead of working from the dining room table, employees should have an ergonomic chair and suitable desk and workstation setup, so that their back is supported and they aren’t looking down all day.
Professional support: if your employee is complaining about an aching back or tightness in the neck, it’ll be worth referring them to a professional. Getting a professional assessment early on is key to preventing long-term MSK impact.
If you’re looking for more information on this topic, head to the OH One website. We help businesses to create a healthy working environment and can give you the tools you need to implement this.