Is the way we work and play a part of the problem?

Is the way we work increasing the likelihood of experiencing back pain? It can be said that certain jobs may affect back pain more than others. You may think that industrial workers who may need to lift heavy objects and have a very physical job may suffer the most but that’s not always the case. Two types of work that often involves the greatest numbers of back problems are drivers and office workers. Driving in notoriously hard on your back as it involves prolonged periods of sitting and exposure to vibrations. This and on average drivers are not in the best of shape can lead to lower back pain, in the lumber area of the back.


Office workers also suffer from back problems, these problems can range all over the back. The main reason for office staff experiencing back pain is them maintaining the same position for long periods of time. The correct position for an office worker to be seated is as shown in the picture above.

• Sitting up straight
• Eyes level with the top of the monitor
• Feet flat on floor
• Avoid crossing legs
• Knees bent at 90 degrees
• Adequate back support

Office based companies have spent a lot of time and money in aids to help their employees adopt this seating position while at work, companies are preventing their employees from being absent. Differing from the perfect seating position is an image of bad seating positions which I’m sure we all do, keeping the perfect posture while seated is hard work on the body, better for it but hard. It is easier to slip into one of these positions but in the long run, not good for the back.

I touched briefly before on drivers being in good shape, core strength is an area I will look into later, but has comfort more a priority to our backs?