35% of Americans are now working remotely from home. A new study from the Lenovo Group found that 71% of those working from home are experiencing either new symptoms or an exacerbation of historic symptoms. The most common begin back pain, neck pain, poor posture, headaches, eye irritation and insomnia.
Why is this happening? Most remote workers do not have an ergonomically sound workspace in their homes. If you are presently working from home, most likely you will be doing so for a long time. In fact, working from home may become the new normal. My informal survey of patients who are presently working from home finds that about half would like to work remotely permanently. The other half would like to go back to the office for meetings, collaboration and socializing 2-3 days a week. Only a few have said they can’t wait to go back to the office full time.
If you are one of the 71% with pain caused by working from home, what are you and your employer doing about it? At minimum you need a supportive chair, a desk (or work surface the right height) and a monitor that is placed high enough so that the top 1/3 is at eye level.
To learn more about what you should be doing download our new guide: Ergonomic Tips for Working at Home. Please share this guide with your family and co-workers! Students will also need this information if schools go remote next month.
If you need a new chair, please consider purchasing a QOR360 ergonomic chair. Since we are no longer using our reception room, we are loaning out our QOR360 chairs. The demand is high so we are only allowing loaners out for 2 days. The response has been great to our loaner program. Here is what one patient emailed me:
I really appreciated the opportunity to try out the QOR360 chair this week. I just returned it to the office and will be receiving mine sometime near the end of next week. It was a noticeable help for my lower back pain. I think it’s going to make a big difference for me and I am looking forward to receiving the chair and swapping out my old desk chair! Joel
If you would like to try a chair call the office at 508-655-9008. If you decide to purchase a QOR360 chair, we have arranged a 5% discount from the company. To get your 5% discount use code PHC at checkout.
Of course the office is open if you are one of the 71% in pain and need pain-relief care. We are using all the necessary precautions and procedures to assure you a safe environment as per the CDC guidelines.
If you have any additional questions, please email me at [email protected]