Researchers say that sitting down for long-hours causes back aches and reduces productivity in the workplace.
Via The Star Online: “Occupational health physician Dr Abed Onn lists low back pain as one of the three most common work-related ailments, alongside noise-induced loss of hearing and upper limb muscular disorder. In the absence of reliable statistics, he based his assesment on cases he has handled in the course of his work. Dr Abed said that low back pain, along with similar painful conditions, was the cause of suffering and reduced productivity.”
“Low back pain is not an old man’s ailment. I am seeing more cases of low back pain in fairly young individuals, even people in their early 30s,” highlighted Dr Onn.
Orthopaedic and spine surgeon Dr Siow Yew Siong asserted that office workers suffer mostly sprained and strained low backs as well as early degeneration of the spine due to the sedentary nature of office work. “Sprains and strains are much more common than actual spinal diseases,” said Dr Siow. “Poor sitting posture, poor office ergonomics (designing of equipment to fit the human body), wrong lifting techniques and prolonged sitting can cause sprains and undue strain to your back.”
For those of you who love your high heels, you might want to think again about your penchant for them. Dr Siow mentioned that wearing high heels can also cause the misalignment of the spine, hips, knees and ankles and result in low back pain
He also added: “Sprains and strains usually abate by themselves with time, but if patients have spinal diseases without symptoms, we usually advise them to be vigilant and do back strengthening exercises.”
Dr Abed suggested that employers should provide ergonomically designed equipment like adjustable seats and working surfaces along with software programmes that remind computer users to take micro-breaks.
Share with us what you think about this—do you feel that sitting for too long cuts workplace productivity?
