BEDS AND KITCHEN TABLES HAVE become the new office settings in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. While working from home has offered its share of perks, it has also led to an increase of patients suffering from a variety of back and neck pain.
The trend is no surprise to Kaku Barkoh, MD, who serves as the chief spinal expert for HCA Houston Healthcare. “As long as people are forced to stay at home, this is going to be an issue,” he said. “Right now, there is still no timeline for when many will be able to return to their offices, so there is a chance this trend will continue.”
A lack of ergonomical preparation at home is the primary culprit for the rise in back and neck pain. Whereas ergonomics is a focus in most office environments, the focus usually does not carry over to home, especially when considering few expected to be logging extensive hours from their residence.
The good news, however, is that a set of simple solutions can help decrease the amount of pain that comes from a patient’s new “office settings.”
“The best solution would be to purchase a lumbar pillow that will reduce the stress in the spine,” said Barkoh. “A cost-cutting solution would be using a number of towels rolled up tightly and using them in the same manner you would use a lumbar pillow.”
Another solution Barkoh suggests is being mindful of how your neck is aligned when looking at a computer screen. “The more you straighten out your neck to where you are looking at the screen without pain is a major plus in keeping the pain away,” he said.
Perhaps the biggest solution comes from brief exercises that help reduce the amount of stiffness that comes from being in front of a computer screen all day.
“It is very important that you take the time to step away and loosen your body,” Barkoh said. “Simple exercises such as retracting your chin or doing squats will go a long way toward keeping your spine in tune.”
Barkoh also suggests that a heart-healthy diet helps reduce the risk of back and neck pain, stressing that fruits and vegetables make for a more effective snack than chips or other foods that can be found at home that can be more tempting.
“We take a conservative approach with our patients,” he said. “When they come in, we are able to talk about how they are spacing themselves and how active they are during the day. Thus far, we haven’t had to suggest surgery to anyone because if they are able to follow the simple adjustments we advise to them, they will be able to function at home without any serious problems.”
