AMHERST, N.Y. (WKBW) — Laura Tulyk-Rossi has been a patient of Dr. Steve Niemiec of Balanced Living Chiropractic Wellness for six years.
Part of the reason she gets adjustments is because of her work-from-home schedule.
"There are times where I would begin to slouch because just sitting there, you become more relaxed," Tulyk-Rossi said.
Stanton Hudson, another one of Niemiec's patients, can attest to that. He's only been working from home for the last few weeks but has already had a few more issues than normal.
"I find myself hunched over and by the end of the day, my back is bothering me," he said. "I'm not feeling great doing those kinds of things."
It's a common occurrence... developing aches and pains thanks to a new work environment. Many are using different setups and different chairs, creating different problems for their bodies.
"That pressure from sitting down is actually the most amount of pressure that's put on the back," Niemiec said. "And if you pick something up, that adds to that weight. That's really important for men and women because they can injure their spine by just sitting."
It's why chiropractors have been deemed essential. Their appointments are nothing new, but doctors like David J. Pacana of North Tonawanda, has seen an influx of new problems.
"At home they don't have ideal office space, improper seating, improper placement of their monitors," Pacana said regarding that work-from-home setup. "I feel like the longer this goes on, it's causing aches and pains where they normally would not have had them."
So the experts are weighing in and sharing these tips to help relieve some of that unwanted stress on your body.
1. Make sure your computer screen is eye level, eliminating extra stress to your neck when looking up and down too often
2. Give your back some additional support (like a rolled towel or pillow) so you're not hunching over or sagging in your chair
3. Take deep breaths and fill your lungs up with clean air
4. Hydrate!
5. Remember to get up and move around every twenty minutes so you're moving that vertebrae
Now more than ever, it's important to take care of yourself. Chiropractic patients like Tulyk-Rossi have been following these tips and say it's done wonders.
"When your body is saying I've had enough, get up, it does help," she said. "The stretches have been helping, and just taking the breaks, it's so important to do."
