Ms. Career Girl

Top Menu

  • Home
  • Media
  • About
    • Terms of Use & Copyright Notice
    • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • PR and FTC Disclosure
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Careers
    • Productivity
    • Career Confessions
    • #SideHustle
    • Job Search Advice
    • Resume Optimization Tool
    • Job Board
  • Lifestyle
    • Life After College
    • Health & Beauty
    • Style
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Product Reviews
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Marriage
    • Working Moms
  • Specials
    • Real Career Girls
    • Style Your Life
    • Book Club
    • Giveaways
  • Home
  • Media
  • About
    • Terms of Use & Copyright Notice
    • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • PR and FTC Disclosure
  • Subscribe

logo

  • Home
  • Careers
    • Productivity
    • Career Confessions
    • #SideHustle
    • Job Search Advice
    • Resume Optimization Tool
    • Job Board
  • Lifestyle
    • Life After College
    • Health & Beauty
    • Style
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Product Reviews
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Marriage
    • Working Moms
  • Specials
    • Real Career Girls
    • Style Your Life
    • Book Club
    • Giveaways
Health & BeautyNews
Home›Self›Health & Beauty›How and Why To Take Care of Your Back

How and Why To Take Care of Your Back

By Marne Platt
Jul 2, 2019
16838
0
Share:
back care back pain

Your Reliable, Invisible Back.

Have you noticed your back recently? Felt a twinge, or a need to stretch? We often take our backs for granted. They work hard every day, making it possible for us to lift, turn, walk, sit, and do our fitness routines. And unless the trainer gives us specific back exercises, we don’t worry much about it. That was me, too, until about 3 months ago.

 Looking Back

It started with a twinge – just a bit of an ouch in my lower back when I stood up from my office chair. Deceptively mild, it went away after I stretched. At least, it went away that day. Over time, though, back pain became part of my life, then leg pain and tingling. When I finally visited the doctor, he immediately ordered an MRI. Results? Arthritis and a herniated disc, both of which pressed on my nerves. Thus began intensive physiotherapy and handfuls of medication, and ultimately a spinal injection to stop the inflammation in my spinal nerves. And the big questions, how did this happen and what can I do now?

Sitting is the New Smoking

Letting Your Back Down

We let our backs down every day: lifting without using our legs, slouching, and carrying children or big briefcases day after day. Most of all, we spend increasing amounts of time sitting in front of our computers. The average worker spends more than 65% of their time sitting. The consequences? According to a 2015 review in the Annals of Internal Medicine,  people who sit for prolonged periods are more likely to develop heart disease, cancer and diabetes. They are also more likely to die from the heart disease or cancer. While exercising regularly helps, it does not completely reverse the effects of sitting for long stretches. The news about the health effects of prolonged sitting has led some people to call it the new smoking: something that many of us do, with terrible health effects.

working from home

Stand Up. Take Control

A few changes can make a big difference. Reduce back strain with these simple steps: maintain good posture, whether sitting or standing. Use ergonomic accessories like keyboard trays and ergonomic chairs. Work standing as much as possible; ask your company for a stand-sit desk. Arrange walking meetings with colleagues. Visit your coworkers in person, instead of calling upstairs over Skype. Use a headset. Set your timer for 30 minutes and when it rings, take a ‘stand up and stretch’ break. If your back does hurt, don’t wait! See a medical professional, find out what is going on, and start to take care of your back

Basic Back Care

Taking care of your back isn’t difficult. It just takes a bit of attention, a bit of time, and a few adjustments. I’m holding more standing meetings, taking those stretch breaks, working at a high table, and trying to improve my posture. Even if you or your company can’t afford an ergonomic chair or standing desk, you can work standing at a counter, and make opportunities to walk and stretch.  In a study by the US National Institutes of Health, more than 55% of women develop chronic lower back pain.  You don’t have to be one of them!

Tagsback careback painback problems officetake care of your backtaking care of your back
Previous Article

Practical Online Jobs for the Busy WAHM

Next Article

How To Create A Better Office Environment

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0

Marne Platt

Dr. Marne Platt is the President of Fundamental Capabilities and the author of 3 books (so far): Living Singlish: Your Life, Your Way; Professional Presence; and PREP For Success. Originally a practicing veterinarian, she built a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. She founded Fundamental Capabilities to ‘pay it forward’ by providing career development workshops and coaching for women. ‘Living Singlish: Your Life, Your Way’ is an ‘older sister in your pocket’ packed full of advice for young women on building their own independent and exciting life. 'Professional Presence' and PREP For Success' help you strengthen your spoken and unspoken communication and leadership presence.

Related articles More from author

  • Health & Beauty

    The Connection between Stress and Back Pain

    May 14, 2018
    By Maria Bashi
  • Health & Beauty

    Simple Ways to Relieve Back Pain Without Surgery

    Aug 26, 2021
    By Maria Bashi
  • NewsSelfWork

    Confessions of a Former Sub-Prime Lender

    Dec 3, 2008
    By Ms. Career Girl
  • NewsSelfStyleWork

    2009 Grammy Looks

    Feb 8, 2009
    By Ms. Career Girl
  • MoneyNewsSelf

    Obama’s New Stimulus Plan and YOU.

    Feb 18, 2009
    By Ms. Career Girl
  • Career ConfessionsNewsWork

    Have you been burned by social media? Get featured in a national women’s magazine!

    Apr 13, 2009
    By Ms. Career Girl

  • Career ConfessionsLife After CollegeSelfWork

    A Tale of High Achieving Career Ladies

  • work in sales
    Life After CollegeSelfWork

    Why an entry level sales job is a great way to kickoff your career

  • Find a Career
    #SideHustleLife After CollegeSelfWork

    Get a Modern Day Career Path Dream Catcher

Subscribe

Job Search

As seen on

career advice blog badge oriel badge

Featured On

  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Resume Optimization Tool
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© Copyright 2021 Ms Career Girl