Young Britons said ‘something doesn’t feel right’ seek help after worrying rise in injuries

Generation Z are apparently suffering from more back pain than millennials and boomers, as a new survey by Slouch revealed that 65% of 18-24 year olds experience the common ailment at work due to their bad postures at work. This is already more than their older millennial and boomer peers.

Speaking to 1,000 remote workers, the startling results showed that only 39% actually work from a desk. As a result of DIY work setups on kitchen counters, coffee tables and sofas, the majority of Britons, 54%, are at risk of similar health problems due to undesirable home working setups.

Osteopath James Davies has revealed how people can simply deal with their symptoms, teaming up with Slouch to tackle the huge rise in physical health problems these working conditions are causing. He warned that bad posture not only affects your health right now, it can also affect the work you’re trying to do.

He explained: “Bad posture occurs when the body uses too much energy to maintain a position, causing areas of the body to become overworked, disrupting important mechanisms in the body such as breathing patterns. Muscles and joints can suffer from poor posture, leading to chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. This pain can become a constant distraction, making it difficult to focus on work.”

Bending or a hunched posture can also affect your breathing by reducing your oxygen intake, which can cause fatigue and headaches, further reducing productivity, according to the expert. To remedy this, the osteopath recommended people take more “regular mini breaks”, getting up from work “if something doesn’t feel right”.

Pilates instructor Eloise Skinner explained what good posture looks like: “Working from home should involve both feet firmly planted on the floor with your hips level and at a 90-degree angle. Make sure your spine is in “neutral” – this is its natural position, making sure you’re not arching your lower back or rounding your upper back. Make sure the neck is in line with the spine, avoiding forward chin movement, the desk provides a 90-degree angle for the elbows and the computer screen at eye level.”

James noted that a simple reset can prevent stiffness and improve circulation, giving your mind a break with some screen time. His other suggestions included incorporating breathing exercises such as deep abdominal breathing during work and adopting routines such as yoga or pilates outside of work.

Two other exercises recommended by the expert are rolling the shoulders, opening the chest, such as lifting the chin, extending the arms and taking deep breaths without raising the shoulders, as well as stretching the neck by tilting the ear to the shoulder for 10 seconds on each side.

One unsuspected change James encouraged revolves around your technology, as he emphasized having comfortable, ergonomic furniture, keyboards, mice and secondary screens if needed.