The country may be gradually opening back up, but for many of us, our lifestyles continue to be much changed from before the coronavirus pandemic. Many people are still furloughed from their jobs, and others that would normally be travelling or working from an office continue to work from home. Needless to say, these lifestyle changes have certainly had an impact.
Have you found that old aches and pains have resurfaced whilst you have been at home? Are you experiencing new complaints? You are certainly not alone, and it’s likely that these issues are linked to major changes to your lifestyle and daily routines.
Too much sitting
Whether you have been working from home for the last few months, or have been on furlough leave, you may well have been spending a lot more time sitting than you normally would. Even if you would normally work from a desk, the nature of travelling to work and interacting with other people within the workplace would likely mean more movement throughout the working day.
If you have been temporarily furloughed from work, certainly during the strictest lockdown conditions, you may have been spending more time than usual sitting on the sofa watching TV or films.
Whatever your current situation, sitting for too long can lead to a number of different problems. For example, a more sedentary lifestyle can tighten your muscles, leading to stiffness in your back shoulders and neck.
What you can do to prevent aches and pains:
If you’re working from home, whilst it may be tempting to work from the sofa or your bed, sitting correctly can help to prevent ergonomically related aches and pains. When working at a desk or table, pay attention to the alignment of your body. Aim to sit with your feet flat on the floor, with your knees at a 90 degree angle. Sitting with your back straight is also important in order to prevent fatigue of your muscles.
Whether you are working or not, make sure to take a break from sitting at least two to three times an hour.
Lack of exercise
During the early parts of lockdown, when time spent outside was restricted, for many people this may have had a significant impact on daily exercise and workout routines. If you usually exercise outdoors or with other people, it’s understandable if your workout momentum has waned.
As well as helping you to stay physically fit, regular exercise is also important for maintaining your mental health. Whilst you may associate muscle pains and soreness with exercising, inactivity can also lead to pain as without exercise, muscles are deprived of a steady flow of blood, nutrients and oxygen, and are weakened as a result.
When a lack of exercise affects your mental health, this can also lead to physical aches and pains. When you are affected by stress and anxiety, it is normal for your body to tense and clench, which over time can lead to pain.
What you can do to prevent aches and pains:
The good news is that there are now fewer restrictions on going out to exercise, although gyms and fitness centres are not yet allowed to open in England. If you are unable to get out to exercise, doing exercises such as yoga and HIIT workouts at home are a great way to keep your physical and mental health in check.
How Osteopathy may help
If you are experiencing aches or pains as a result of recent lifestyle changes, then it could help you to see an osteopath. Osteopathy can help with a wide range of problems, including generalised aches and pains. Osteopaths can also provide advice on exercise, posture and relaxation techniques to help you.
For information on how osteopathy can help you, you can read more here. To arrange a consultation with our osteopathic team, call our Halesowen practice on 0121 585 8555, or our Wombourne practice on 01902 894 894.
