2020 has been a challenging year. The coronavirus forced many employees to trade their well-planned workstations for haphazard home offices and kitchen tables. As a result, Dr. Jim Doran from Integrative Health and Rehabilitation says he has seen a significant increase in work-related injuries. We have partnered with him to bring our clients helpful information about how to safely work from home. Dr. Doran has teamed up with us to help his patients find the things they needed to support themselves while working. While he can help relieve pain from a workplace injury, people end up right back in his office if they don’t change their work habits.
Why did you decide to partner with us?
I was looking for experts in ergonomics to recommend to my patients. I mentioned this problem to Daniel, who has been a patient for many years, and I realized that Contract Furnishings had the solutions my clients needed. Contract Furnishings knows which products can prevent injuries. With a short consultation, they can make simple recommendations and small tweaks that are life-changing! We have formed a symbiotic relationship, one that is benefitting our clients in countless ways.
As a chiropractor, what do you tell your patients about working from home?
I tell them to be mindful of how you are working. For example, sitting in the same position for hours, especially on a couch, can wreak havoc on your body. If you sit at a desk or a table, make sure that your work surface is the proper height. Your elbows and knees should be resting at 90 degrees. If the surface is too high or too low, you risk injuring your shoulders, back, and neck. That’s what I started seeing in my practice shortly after COVID hit in March and April.
Why is ergonomics so important?
When you sit for long periods, you place harmful force and stress on your joints and spine. Also, hunching over a laptop all day stretches your tissues and irritates the disks that connect your vertebrae. These bad habits can leave your body in a constant state of stress, and that wear-and-tear adds up. Ergonomically designed furniture can help prevent injuries by providing the needed structure to your desk and chair.
How can clients find relief from work-related injuries?
By the time people come into my office, their joints are inflamed. Chiropractors work to find the root cause of the injury and determine which tissue is damaged. Luckily, the back and neck respond very well to chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and massage. These three therapies can provide relief and help to restore a normal range of motion to the joints.
Aside from ergonomics, what else can people do to help prevent injury?
Movement. Getting up and moving every 15-20 minutes will give your body a break from the pressure you put on your joints. Besides, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, sitting is the new smoking. People that sit for more than six hours a day significantly increase their risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and overall mortality. So, movement is not just essential for joint health; it’s crucial for your overall health.
Interested in learning more from Dr. Doran? Visit integrativehealthandrehab.com.