Feb. 28 is International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day. Last week we talked about an occupational injury known as Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) that affects at least 1.8 million people a year according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. RSI describes the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse.
As millions of Americans continue to work from home and want to stay safe during COVID-19, there are a few things you need to know to avoid getting yourself injured.
Here are 5 tips for those who work from home:
- Set up a dedicated workspace. As tempting as it is, working from a bed or a couch for long periods of time could lead to neck and back pain.
- Work at an appropriate height. Your elbows should fall naturally on your desk. Your eye line should be level with the address bar on your web browser. Your keyboard and mouse should be low enough to allow you to relax your shoulders. Here’s what a user- friendly workstation looks like.
- Use a laptop stand if you have a laptop. Here’s how you should position yourself while working on a laptop.
- Use an office chair if possible. Use a chair with lower back support and seated cushion. If you don’t have an office chair, add a seat cushion and roll up a soft towel or blanket to place in your lower back area for support.
- Get up often and stay hydrated.