TAKE REMOTE CONTROL

Working from home using furniture that isn’t built-for-purpose could take a toll on your body. MH editor Scott Henderson went hunting for solutions

- Scott Henderson

EVER FEEL LIKE you live at the office? In this, the era of social distancing, an entire workforce has become swiftly acquainted with the oft-dreaded, more oft-embraced concept of working from home. The standard for corporate attire has plummeted from suits, collared shirts and leather shoes to sweats, T-shirt and Uggs – and that’s when you’re ‘dressing up’ for a videoconference.

For some, working remotely will send productivity skyrocketing. For others, the lure of an afternoon of Tiger King will prove too strong. Either way, we’re bound for a few months of sitting and staring at our screens at home.

Understandably, given the rapidly evolving circumstances, most households were set up as pre-COVID escapes from our professional lives. We weren’t planning on letting our colleagues into our living rooms with each Zoom conference, and our furniture certainly wasn’t designed for long stints of work. Welcome to the brave new world of back pain, wrist tenderness and neck ache.

“Don’t let that faint whisper of back pain develop into a disc bulge,” advises Rebecca Feros, a physiotherapist on Sydney’s northern beaches. Feros, who’s been in demand in recent weeks from clients seeking ergonomic home set-ups, spoke to MH in an effort to ensure these ailments don’t strike you before your time. “When you’re young, it’s just the pits, so I’ve been working hard to get out there and hopefully prevent any long-term damage,” explains Feros between dishing out advice that would be equally appropriate upon a return to the office.