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In the era of a pandemic, remote work has become an everyday reality for many office workers. Although some people appreciate the fact that they do not have to commute to the office regularly, not everyone has the right conditions at home to work on a computer. Their absence is the first step towards the development of certain ailments. What kind?
Ailments caused by remote work – problems with the spine
Individually fitted office chair and a spacious, adequately high desk make the human body fit in a good working position. Support for the elbows, the monitor positioned so that its upper edge is at eye level, support for the lumbar spine – all these factors make us comfortable. Their absence for a long time may not only cause discomfort, but also be effective degenerative changes in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine.
Symptoms such as back pain, reduced mobility in the neck or numbness in the hands indicate that something is wrong with the locomotor system and we should see a specialist. It is also worth considering introducing some changes to the workplace (e.g. purchasing a monitor stand or elbow supports). It’s also a good idea to get up from your computer every now and then and do a few stretches.
See also: Discopathy: cervical, lumbar, spine – symptoms and treatment
Ailments from remote work – widow’s hump
One of the most common problems with incorrect posture at work at the computer (although also with frequent use of a smartphone) is the so-called widow’s hump. We call it the state in which overextension in the upper back causes the head to stick out in relation to the torso. This is the result of a permanent slouch and frequent tilting of the head. There is a lot of pressure on the spine.
Characteristic for a widow’s hump is the protruding “ball” on the neck. If this ailment is diagnosed, it is necessary to start rehabilitation. It should also be remembered that all devices such as laptops, monitors, tablets and smartphones should be at eye level – thanks to this, we avoid bending over too much.
Diseases caused by remote work – carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disease among office workers. This is because its development is influenced by the frequent repetition of movements associated with operating a computer mouse or typing on the keyboard. Such activities lead to overloading. The carpal tunnel syndrome is the effect of long-term compression of the median nerve that runs in the carpal tunnel. Its symptoms are primarily pain and numbness in the thumb, index finger and half of the ring finger, as well as a feeling of weakness in the hand.
If diagnosed early, physical therapy can help. In the case of advanced stages, you will need to consider invasive treatment, e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. This treatment costs approximately PLN 2300 on average.
Check: Wrist pain – what could it be due to?
Ailments caused by remote work – tennis elbow
This is another ailment that primarily affects people working at the computer. She appears when it comes to Excessively tightening of the forearm muscles when making repetitive wrist movements (e.g. typing). The resulting overloads lead to the development of microtraumas of tendons and attachments in the area of the lateral condyle of the humerus. The collagen fibers of the tendons are then damaged.
The symptoms of tennis elbow include:
- feeling of weakness of the hand in the wrist,
- specific pain when turning and straightening the wrist,
- problems with grasping objects and the associated clenching of hands.
To minimize unpleasant symptoms, you should undergo a series of physical therapy treatments. Transverse massage will also bring relief. Some orthopedists also recommend steroid injections. It is also extremely important to properly position the hand at work – special wrist rests will help in this. If conservative treatment does not work, then surgery will need to be considered.
Read also:
- Golfer’s elbow – what is it?
- What is a hernia? Types and treatment of hernia [WE EXPLAIN]
- Sciatica – causes, symptoms, treatment [EXPLAINED]
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