STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Grace · Dooney & Bourke

Who else here sits at a desk all day?

tara t · Marc Jacobs

i sit all day. my back gets a bit stiff, but i'm not in pain.

i go to a chiro. once a week and my trainer and i are working on my back and arms; i wonder if that would help you?

Grace · Dooney & Bourke

I've been contemplating the chiro but am hesitant. I had a bad experience a few years back. I went and left in more pain than I started with. But I am thinking about giving it another shot.

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Yoooooga. That's the best medicine. It's a long term solution, rather than a temporary fix like a chiropractor. I only go once a week, but it helps so much. And my back doesn't even hurt when I work once a week in retail.

Elle · Hermes

I used to - have you tried getting up and doing some hamstring/oblique/ab/back/shoulder stretches every few hours?

Grace · Dooney & Bourke

I do try to stretch a few times a day and get up and walk away from my desk.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I sit at a desk but I try to walk around some so I don't get a back ache. I also try to not lean over too much. Sitting straight up (or close to it) helps out.

I would try a back massage over a chiro.

kenzie · Chanel

That's so funny b/c I was thinking of posting a similar question today. I sit at a desk all day and my back and neck get really, really sore. I don't have any solutions thus far, though.

Andrea Julia · Coach

The only thing that saves me is being able to change positions every few minutes from regular sitting to sitting on my feet to sitting with my knees up and feet flat on the chair. I also take my shoes off a lot of the time. I used to feel too uncomfortable to not sit correctly when I worked in a cubicle so I feel your pain. This may be one of the things I love about having an office.

Some people I work with have these pillow things that attach to the back of their chair. Probably something you can buy at Staples.

HeatherLynn · Gucci

I sit at a desk all day and my back definitely gets sore. I get a weekly massage (yes I know I am spoiled) because of all the knots I get in my back. The thing that I have found that works the best is to lean into a door frame with you hands flat on the frame and elbows out straight. Lean in and get a good stretch. That helps keep your pectorial muscles loose which can cause a lot of back tension. I try to get up and walk around a few times a day. I also have an Aeron Chair (company provides it) that is very ergonomically correct. But, with all that said, I have yet to find a permant solution. I think its something that just comes with sitting at a desk all day.

flknight24 · Dooney & Bourke

I do Bikram yoga, which really helps. In fact, my sore back is the reason that I go sometimes. Not only do the streteches that you do in the class immediately help the soreness but Bikram also strengthens my back muscles for the long term so my back is stronger and gets less sore from sitting all day. When I go to Bikram at least 2x a week my back never hurts but sometimes I won't go for a few weeks and my back starts to get really sore.

-- Edited by flknight24 at 10:51, 2005-10-14

subwolley · Kate Spade

I too sit at a desk all day and have horrible neck and shoulder pain! Make sure you have someone figure out the ergonomics of your desk space. There should be someone at every office who knows how to do this. But if you don't have someone at your job who can adjust your work space here are some tips for you: Is your computer monitor too high or too low? The same question can be applied to your chair. Is the back of your chair too low as well? Make sure your monitor is at eye level, and that your arms comfortably rest on the arms of your chair while you use your mouse. Make sure your lower back has support. Usually the pain is coming from your lower back and working it's way up to your neck and shoulders. Having proper back support can eliminate the pain. You can also put something under your feet if you have problems reaching the floor if you adjust your chair.

To deal with the pain, I usually take a couple tennis balls to work and roll them down my back and inbetween my shoulders, sometimes while I'm sitting at my desk. Take breaks away from your desk. Walk around and stretch as much as you can. I hope this helps. I know how you feel, and it's no fun to have back pain!

tina242 · Kate Spade

Me - I just get up and stretch. Mostly leg stretches, and I used to dance so I do kicks too :).