Reduce Your Joint Pains, Change Your Flooring

Experiencing back pain or joint pains is usually quite common if you spend your day cooped up in the office or outside doing laborious work. But as common as it is, simply ignoring the issue will not make it go away and can actually get worse and have a negative impact on your daily life. In this time and age we cannot afford to take time off to recuperate or claim that heavily frowned upon, workers compensation. If you are currently suffering from these pains or would just like to know how to prevent them here are some simple tips to guide you:

Tips on how to minimize workplace and home injuries

• Try to avoid twisting just your neck if you are using multiple monitors at work and instead move your whole body.
• Ensure that your monitors are all eye level and follow the 90 degree rule in conjunction with your elbows, hips, knees and feet all in a 90 degree angle.
• If you are constantly reading documents or using your mobile whilst sitting at your desk, use an elevator if possible to avoid putting constant stress on your neck.
• Avoid sitting in the same position for extended periods of time. Take a small break to stretch your back, shoulders and wrists every hour to prevent any body stress and strains.
• Avoid holding the phone in between your neck and shoulder as this puts a great deal of strain on your neck. If you are answering the phone all day try and get a hands free headset.
• Use ergonomic mice, keyboards, chairs and wrist rests if possible.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects or lifting them incorrectly.

If you are unsure on how to setup your desk correctly then contact your Human Resources department or consult with your manager in getting a workplace assessment done.

The effects of your flooring

Whether it’s at home or at the office, the type of flooring you walk on is often missed as a contributing factor when it comes to back or joint pains. If you spend hours of your day walking or standing on hard flooring such as concrete, ceramic, stone or porcelain you are more likely to suffer from these sorts of pains due to the hard nature of these floors. Some softer flooring to consider:

Carpet – carpet is the most obvious choice when it comes to softer flooring but requires heavy maintenance and can be quite expensive.

Linoleum – one of the softer types of flooring, very durable and an all-natural option made from renewable materials makes it the ideal flooring type.

Vinyl – equally as effective as linoleum, vinyl is versatile, soft and easy to replace/repair. Vinyl is a great cost-effective option if you want to achieve that wooden or tile finish for a fraction of the price.

Cork – is an eco-friendly type of wood flooring that comes a lot softer than its hardwood counterpart. It provides that soft cushion feeling beneath your feet reducing any stress on your joints. The only downfall is that is stains quite easily if spills are cleaned up immediately.

Laminate – similar to vinyl, laminate is a cost-effective option that is soft on the feet and water resistant making it a great option for kitchen or bathroom areas in your home or office.

It is always a good idea to contact the professionals if you are unsure of what flooring type is best suited to you. With so many types of flooring and designs available you may not have to sacrifice aesthetic for comfort.