Maintaining good posture is important for our musculoskeletal health and wellbeing.
Poor posture can be detrimental to your health, with seemingly small actions leading to big consequences. Research shows that approximately 1.71 billion people worldwide are impacted by musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Poor MSK health can lead to long-lasting problems for your back, neck and wrists.
It’s easy to fall into misaligned positions or cross-legged sitting during the work day, but this causes strain on your back, neck and pelvis as well as having an impact on mood and stress levels.
Posture in the workplace
Around a third of the UK population are living with an MSK condition. Good posture correctly aligns the body, and when maintained acts as a preventative measure against MSK conditions. Catching bad posture habits can have a big impact.
It can be hard to know if your desk posture is affecting your wellbeing. Seemingly innocent positions could cause long-lasting problems for your back and neck. Understandably, remembering to check your posture can get lost when heads down or in an important meeting. However, it is an important factor to think about.
These free resources are available to encourage positive posture and improve musculoskeletal health in the workplace.
What guidelines should your HR team have in place?
Musculoskeletal disorders account for 27% of all work-related ill health cases. Businesses should consider MSK health as part of their overall employee wellbeing strategy to form preventative measures against MSK conditions.
Make sure you have posture-positive equipment
Having the right equipment is vital to supporting good posture. This could include adjustable equipment for desk workers, providing the correct mechanical aids and modifying the workplace where needed e.g. to reduce carrying distances.
Have the right support for home workers
40% of employers now offer a hybrid working model. Posture should extend to home workers to offer an encompassing approach to wellbeing. Make sure that any changes to homeworking procedures are updated with HR so new equipment can be provided.
Give employees posture reminders
Make use of our printable posters in your work place. Having regular posture check-ins to identify any strained or misaligning positions can catch bad posture early. Regular breaks and posture exercises are healthy habits for employees to adopt.Prolonged sitting can increase the likelihood of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. That’s why we want to help people live and feel healthier in both big and small ways.
While our workstations at the office are typically well-adjusted to our needs, the surge in remote work has altered this scenario for many of us.
Jon Booker
Physical Health Expert at Westfield Health