Back pain ‘more likely’ for office workers

Office workers who are deskbound and use electronic equipment are more likely to suffer from back pain than those who do not, according to an osteopath group.

The workplace is encouraging people to be inactive so they need to break this up by taking exercise, according to the British Osteopathic Association (BOA).

Complaints about stress and spine and joint pain are the most common causes of sickness absence and work-related ill health, according to the Department of Health.

Kelston Chorley, osteopath and head of professional development at the BOA, says our bodies are designed to be moving and mobile but our lives are not like that.

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"There needs to be an integrated attitude at work that you have got to do some exercise as well – you cannot just sit at your desk all day," he said.

It was also revealed by the Department of Health one of the most common causes of back pain is poor posture which can be a result of working patterns.

According to the research by the department, 42 per cent of people prefer to use complementary therapy to treat their back pain.