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Physical Health

Joint Pain and Posture

3 min read

Joint pain and stiffness are among the most common health complaints in the UK, affecting people of all ages and in all kinds of jobs. Whether you spend your day leaning over a dental chair or sitting at a desk, long periods in the same position can put pressure on your neck, back, shoulders and hips.

Ongoing pain doesn’t just affect your body. It can make it harder to sleep, concentrate and enjoy the things you love, and over time it can take a real toll on your mood and mental wellbeing. The good news is that small, regular changes to how you move and sit can make a big difference.

In this article, we look at why joint pain is so common for dental professionals and desk based workers, share advice from exercise scientist Daryl Browne on why prevention is better than cure, and bring together trusted resources to help you manage and prevent joint pain.

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    Joint pain is becoming more of an issue as people become more sedentary.

    For dental professionals it has always been deemed of a hazard of the job. This is mainly due to learning over patients or working in the same position for long periods of time. Trying to get into these awkward positions so you can see what you are doing.

    Also, with an increase in remote and hybrid working, people are spending more time sat at their desk and moving less during the day. Pain and stiffness commonly affects the neck, back, shoulders and hips.

    Being in constant pain can have a negative effect on your mental wellness.

    Getting some movement in throughout the day is important, even if this is just a few minutes at a time, you could set a timer to remind yourself to move, or some smart watches give you a prompt if you haven’t stood or moved for a while.

    Our head of health and wellbeing Claire Wassall sat down for a talk with Daryl Browne who has an MSc in exercise science, a personal trainer and author with over 20 years’ experience.

    Exercise and posture Daryl Browne Marketing – Cavity Dental Staff

    After listening back to the recording one of the key points that Daryl talks about is prehab rather than rehab, it is much better to get into a routine before you start experiencing pain and problems.

    You can order a copy of Daryl’s book here: 21 Days to Perfect Posture – Payhip

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