The coronavirus pandemic has affected virtually every aspect of daily life, with one major change being that anyone who can work from home now does. Until half of American workers are working remotely in the midst of the pandemic, and it’s unclear when everything will be back to normal.
At first, working from home sounds like good business: get paid to do your work while you hang out in the comfort of your own home. That said, it has its downsides. Lack of travel means less travel, and most homes don’t have the ergonomic setups that most offices have. Your couch may be comfy at first, but sitting on it all day for weeks at a time is a recipe for back, neck, and shoulder pain.
“People have to move throughout the day,” says John GallucciCEO of JAG-ONE Physiotherapy, medical coordinator for Major League Soccer and sports medicine consultant to several professional athletes. “We’re used to commuting to work, and just going to and from work or having lunch at a restaurant is enough. But as we know, when we sit for long periods of time, your body eventually stiffens up.
Fortunately, consciously making time to move throughout the workday and doing the right stretches can help you prevent or relieve the stiffness and pain that comes with being stuck in quarantine.
Keep reading for Gallucci’s tips and key stretches to stay pain-free while working from home.
