Keep your spine healthy: Experts

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 16

October 16 is observed as World Spine Day every year and the theme this year is ‘Back 2 Back’. The day raises awareness about spine health and also motivate people to take care of their spinal health.

Getting ready for work

• Have a small cushion behind your low back, stand once every hour, ensure the top of the laptop screen is at eye level
• Try using a 4 inch foot stool under the desk if low back pain develops
• Stretch properly and have an arm support to rest your elbows as it will relax your shoulders and neck

Take good care of spine

• Exercise daily
• Maintain right posture
• Take breaks between work
• Walk while taking phone calls
• Reconsider chair you sit on for long

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The theme revolves typically around younger generation who are working back to back, overburdened with work and hardly take care of their spine health. During the pandemic, work from home has led to side effects and aggravated spine-related issues. If not taken care of, symptoms are going to stay for more than a year. A number of patients coming these days have increased by 10-25 per cent as compared to pre-Covid times. Dr Shubhang Aggarwal, orthopaedic and robotic joint replacement surgeon and director, NHS Hospital, said work from home during the pandemic had contributed a lot towards spine-related problems.

“Couch seating arrangement is contributing to the pain. Fluffy furniture is comfy but slouching or leaning forward on your laptop or lying down while typing is hard on the body. Especially when your 15-minute Zoom meeting turns into an hour. Though zebra-print chair looks cool on video conferences, it’s not the most ergonomically sound chair for you. Choose a chair that delivers both support and comfort to your lower back and hips,” Dr Aggarwal said.

Another city based expert said improper and insufficient facilities for working from home for prolonged hours led to many spine-related problems during Covid. “Now, not only elderly but even young are facing issues related to spine. It is important to take short breaks to reduce stress on spine. Regular exercise and yoga will also help in easing the problem,” he said.

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