COVID-19 has changed our way of life for the last month, and could potentially change our lives for the foreseeable future. We are still open and treating guests with our patented Bonati Spine Procedures to help those in chronic and/or acute spine pain, but there are ways to minimize symptoms at home.
The blog is excerpted from articles from the National Spine Health Foundation, originally dated March 25, 2020.
Whether you’re not used to working from home or hoping to enhance your home work space, it is a critical time to adopt healthy habits and practices that will protect the back and neck from new or enduring pain. Many will be sitting in new positions for longer periods of time, putting the spine health at new risk if proper posture, exercises, and practices aren’t enacted.
“Taking care of your body as you face challenging times will help with mental readiness and will ease the transition back to normalcy as we get through this together,” said Dr. Rita Roy, CEO at Spine Health.
It’s not just physical pain, but mental suffering that is at risk as well. With 100 million Americans suffering from neck or back pain each year, it is the leading physical cause of lost work days and also contributes to large numbers of people suffering from clinical major depression.
By cultivating healthy habits, including maintaining proper sitting form, eating a healthy diet, incorporating simple exercises, stretches, and screen breaks, those working or distance learning from home, many for the first time, can prevent injury, maintain pain-free lifestyles, and avoid developing new, bad habits that can last a lifetime.
Spine Health guidance, including tips, tricks, and educational resources, offer people the chance to respect and tend to the body well as they navigate this crisis. Healthy bodies and minds will be vital when life returns to normal and it’s time to recover lost income, productivity, and scheduling.
Consider making these ergonomic changes to your workplace to improve your spinal health.
- Create a dedicated working space, ideally someplace that is quiet and has natural light
- Use a standing desk, ergonomic chair, or yoga ball to strengthen your core and increase your spinal health
- Keep moving! Designate a time to get up, stretch, and exercise, whether it’s yoga, a walk, or using hand weights
- Adjust your computer screen and chair so that the center of your computer screen is at eye level
- Be mindful of your posture! Adjust your desk height in a way that allows your forearms to rest comfortably at a 90-degree angle. Work with your feet flat on the floor and your back against the chair (you may need a towel or pillow behind you)
- Keep a cup of tea or water near you as a friendly reminder to stay hydrated!
It’s important to take care of our mental health, too, especially during these uncertain times. Alleviate your anxiety and depression and increase your mind-body connection by taking these simple things:
- Stay hydrated
- Eat a balanced diet
- Practice movement
We Are Still Here For You
Remember if you’re following this advice, but are still suffering from debilitating back or neck pain, the Bonati Spine Institute is open and here to help you. Allow our surgeons to provide a complimentary review your case to determine if you are a candidate for our exclusive and patented procedures. Simply call 855-267-0482 or complete our contact form here and a Bonati patient advocate will be happy to reach out to you directly to discuss.
Read the full articles from the National Spine Health Foundation here: https://spinehealth.org/covid-19-resources-guidance-for-those-working-from-home/ & https://spinehealth.org/covid19-tips-for-keeping-healthy-at-home/
You may also find the following article regarding working from home or homeschooling during COVID times interesting: