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4 Common Desk Problems and Solutions

Desk Hazard 1 – Lower Back Pain

Causes

  • Long hours in a chair

  • Muscle fatigue

  • Slouching and poor posture

Solution

  • Going for a brief walk

  • At your desk exercises

  • Improving work station comfort with lumbar support or foot stools

  • Improving posture with regular core and back exercises.

Physical Desk Hazard 2 – Wrist Pain

Solution

  • Specific wrist stretches

  • Wrist rest to support the joint 

  • Regular breaks from using the mouse and keyboard 

Causes

  • Overuse or poor wrist positioning

  • Repetitive strain

  • Inflammation

Rooftop Yoga
Iyengar Yoga

Physical Desk Hazard 3 – Neck and Shoulder Pain

Causes

  • Work station not set up correctly

  • Long hours on the phone resting on your shoulder

Solution

  • Regular neck and shoulder exercises at the desk

  • Specialist treatment with physiotherapist or chiropractor

  • Positioning computer screen directly in front of the chair at the correct height

  • Positioning the keyboard directly in front of the chair with space for the wrist to rest and be supported

  • If frequent phone user switch to using a headset   

Physical Desk Hazard 4 – Eye Strain

Causes

  • Long hours staring at the screen

  • Monitors too far away or too close

  • Dry eyes

Solution

  • Give your eyes a break from the screens, such as after 20-30 minutes of working at an Electronic Display looking briefly at something in the distance or getting up and chat to a co-worker or go to the printer

  • Having the screen correctly positioned 

  • Use anti-glare filters over visual display units 

  • Regular checks with your optometrist.

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