Practical advice for healthier desk work in North Cyprus

Desk-based workers should consider posture, workstation design and daily movement together rather than treating them as separate issues, according to advice from Eastern Mediterranean University physiotherapy academic Özde Depreli reported by Yeniduzen.

Depreli said remaining in one position for extended periods may contribute to muscle fatigue and discomfort in the lower back, neck, back and shoulders. She recommended setting up a workstation that supports the back, allows the feet to rest comfortably on the floor and places the screen so that the user does not need to lean forward.

She also advised workers to stand up or change position roughly every 30 minutes. Short walks, drinking water and simple shoulder and trunk movements can help build more movement into the working day, she said.

Depreli said preventative physiotherapy can assist in assessing posture, mobility, muscle strength, flexibility and strain experienced during work. Exercise plans, she added, should be tailored to an individual’s health condition and physical capacity, and may include stretching, strengthening and trunk-control work.

Employers should, where their resources allow, support movement breaks and make ergonomic adjustments in the workplace, Depreli said.

People whose pain recurs frequently or affects daily life were advised to seek an individual assessment from a health professional. Yeniduzen also reported that employees and employers can obtain information on workplace exercises and physiotherapy services from Eastern Mediterranean University’s Healthy Life Practice and Research Centre.