Working is causing increasing problems for many adults. 46.5 million days were lost through spinal problems, this is 12% of all incapacities and has increased by 40% since 1983. £198 million was paid out in benefits by the DHSS. The loss to industry was over 1 billion pounds and treatment costs to the NHS was 156 million pounds, enough to have built 16 new hospitals.

Within the world of work there are many different ways of performing your duties. For example if you are lifting a box, many people know about bending their knees when lifting, but that is only part of the problem you should also try when you bend to do so in one plane of motion. This means that you try to avoid lifting and twisting as this significantly increases the stresses and strains on your ligaments, discs and muscles, and can significantly decrease your chances of  doing damage to your back.

You can look at your desk set up as well. This is worth doing because for somebody in a sedentary job you spend approximately 1715 hours a year in your chair. Your computer should be directly in front of you with your keyboard in front of the screen, so that you are not twisting your neck in any way to look at your screen. Before you turn the computer on if you look at the reflection of your eyes in the screen, they should be about 1/3 to 1/2 way down the screen. Your chair should have some support for the lower part of the spine and ideally sit at 90 degrees and for you not to slump. Your chair should be of a height so your knees are at right angles and your elbows are at right angles when you type or write on the desk.

When you sit down at your desk you should try to put your bottom into the back of the chair and pull the chair under the table as far as is comfortable try to ensure that at least up to your mid forearm is on the desk and supported by the desk so that your arms are not floating in mid air.

R.S.I. (repetitive strain injury) Is something that often comes about through incorrect postioning of computers and desk and chair, this is something that can be corrected by taking you through the desk set up and osteopathy can also help treat the RSI