New survey shows chiropractic need for at-home workers during National Chiropractic Health Month

National Chiropractic Health Month is an opportunity to reach out to patients working from home with ACA resources

October is National Chiropractic Health Month, punctuated by a just-released survey from Versus Arthritis, the UK’s leading arthritis charity, on the uptick in aches and pains from people working at home, and what some are dubbing the “posture pandemic.”

The study found that roughly four in five (81%) office workers have experienced musculoskeletal pain due to working from home and sub-par home work set-ups, while roughly a quarter of respondents (23%) reporting that pain troubles them often or all the time. Roughly half of respondents reported lower back pain.

Larry Koyama, a physiotherapist speaking to Woman & Home, says, “Exercise and movement are free and one of the best ways to prevent joint pain.” He advises, “stepping away from your computer regularly, moving and stretching every hour and taking a lunch time or end-of-work walk to help your body adjust to your new workplace and reduce your joint pain in future.”

The American Chiropractic Association is celebrating National Chiropractic Health Month with an “Active and Adaptive” campaign.

“After months of sheltering in place, many people are still practicing lifestyle changes necessitated by the pandemic to reduce their exposure: avoiding crowded public areas and working from home, choosing car trips instead of air travel, ordering food and supplies online, and avoiding gyms and other enclosed interior spaces where people gather,” the ACA website says. “As a result, many people are moving less, and some are experiencing pain as a result. NCHM 2020 will encourage the public to adjust to the challenges of staying fit and pain free with a smaller lifestyle footprint by becoming more mindful of movement and posture and by highlighting tips and strategies to help them adapt in healthy ways.”

National Chiropractic Health Month is a nationwide observance held each October and seeks to raise public awareness of the importance of musculoskeletal health and the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered and drug-free approach to health and wellness.

The ACA offers doctors of chiropractic NCHM 2020 resources such as a campaign toolkit for doctors, health and wellness information and more. For more info go to acatoday.org/Education-Events/National-Chiropractic-Health-Month.