White-collar occupational diseases

In modern society, more and more people are engaged in office work, spending long hours sitting at their desks. Prolonged sitting has negative effects on physical health, and the following are common occupational diseases that may result.

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White-collar workers maintain the same posture for long periods, sitting still for extended durations, and looking down at computers or mobile phones for prolonged periods. These work habits put continuous stress on the shoulders, neck, and lower back. Incorrect sitting posture and a lack of proper chair and workstation setup lead to abnormal pressure on the shoulders, neck, and lower back. Additionally, prolonged repetitive use of certain muscles, such as when using a mouse and keyboard, causes muscle fatigue and tension. These phenomena can lead to various occupational diseases.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Maintaining the same motion for extended periods (e.g., using a mouse) can easily cause injury or pain in the wrists and fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to pain, tingling, numbness, and even severe pain throughout the entire forearm.

Preventive Measures

Trying some simple stretches and exercises may help relieve tight wrists.

If your keyboard is on a keyboard tray on your desk while your mouse is on the desk, you might tend to lean your neck and shoulders more towards the mouse side. Although many people place wrist rests on keyboard trays or mouse pads, wrists should not actually rest on them, as this can cause more discomfort.

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Lower Back Pain

Sitting in a chair for several hours continuously without moving is very harmful to the body in the long run, especially if posture is poor, which can cause even greater harm. Lower back pain is a common "occupational injury" among adults of all ages. Some people slouch at work, bending their backs excessively while sitting, which can also lead to lower back pain.

Preventive Measures

In addition to paying attention to your sitting posture at work, you can also relieve accumulated pressure in your lower back through regular exercise. Strengthening your abdominal muscles, for example, is an excellent choice.

Another reminder: if you keep an overly thick wallet in your back pocket, it can actually harm your health. Sitting on an overly thick wallet can compress the sciatic nerve, causing severe lower back pain.

Joint Problems

The human body needs to move a lot. If you maintain a fixed posture for a long time, you will easily feel stiffness and tightness in your joints. Prolonged sitting can shorten and tighten the hip flexors, which are the main muscle group responsible for lifting the legs and raising the knees. If the hip flexors are excessively tight, it can lead to anterior pelvic tilt, putting pressure on the back and causing back pain.

Preventive Measures

Get up and move around regularly, and stretch your muscles and joints.

Eye Strain

Office workers stare at computer screens for several hours a day. After some time at work, their vision may start to blur, and their eyes often become more sensitive, either too watery or too dry. All of these can be symptoms of eye strain.

Preventive Measures

Enlarging the font size so you don't have to squint at the screen is one way to prevent eye strain. You can also take regular breaks, look into the distance, let your eyes leave the computer screen, and adjust the screen brightness to avoid excessively bright light irritating your eyes.

Bacterial Growth

Bacteria growing on office desks are also a health concern. Bread crumbs and food residue accidentally fall into keyboard crevices, accumulating various germs over time, and even attracting rodents carrying many pathogens. In addition, many fresh foods or cooked dishes require refrigeration, and if left at room temperature for more than two hours, there may be food safety concerns.

Preventive Measures

If you often eat at your desk, remember to keep hand sanitizer or hand soap readily available, and also have antibacterial wipes to clean your desk and seat daily. If a nearby colleague coughs or sneezes, germs can easily spread into the air. Maintaining habits of cleanliness and disinfection can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

If there's a pantry in the office, public spaces or items like sinks and sponges can easily harbor dirt and bacteria. It's recommended to use paper towels instead to avoid bacterial transmission. Experts even suggest that office workers who frequently eat in the office should consider having a refrigerator thermometer and a meat thermometer.

Overstretching Joints

If the office desk has a keyboard, mouse, telephone, etc., frequent use can lead to the body constantly overstretching. Prolonged overstretching can cause the shoulder joints to fully extend due to the required movements. However, to protect the joints, movement should ideally be within a moderate range.

It is recommended that all items be placed within easy reach. Sit upright with your forearms flat, and your elbows should be at waist height.

Preventive Measures

It is recommended to use a keyboard tray or computer desk that can be adjusted to your height to avoid overstretching. A footrest is a good secondary option, but its small surface area might hinder body movement.

Excessive Stress

Modern people experience high levels of work stress, which has quickly surpassed lower back pain as the biggest health concern. Research even shows a correlation between stress and back pain, as well as poor mental health.

Preventive Measures

If the stress is mild, you can adjust your breathing, calm your emotions, or do some simple yoga or exercises at your desk. If you have a break from work, consider leaving the office and going outdoors for some fresh air. However, if there's a serious conflict with colleagues or clients causing you extreme stress, you might need an objective third party to help mediate.

Tips for Maintaining Health in Daily Life

Maintain correct sitting posture: Sit upright, choose an ergonomic office chair and workstation, and adjust the seat height and angle appropriately.

Take timely breaks and move around: Get up periodically to move your shoulders, neck, and back muscles, and do some stretching exercises to relieve muscle tension.

Appropriate exercise: Regularly engage in suitable exercises, such as swimming, yoga, and stretching, to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility.

Use appropriate care products: Choose suitable care products, such as shoulder and neck heat pads, lumbar support belts, etc., to help relieve muscle fatigue and alleviate symptoms.

Related products can be found at: Rock Medical Massage Products

*The above does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for general conditions or any individual persons or patient cases, nor should it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Publication Date: January 9, 2023. If you would like to receive free health information regularly, please subscribe to us.

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