The most common ailment of the work environment is lower back pain. Other common ailments include foot and leg pain, and neck and middle back pain with tightness and tingling or numbness of the hands, arms and feet. 75% of people will suffer from back pain at one time or another; and it is the second leading cause of both missed days from work and hospital visits.

Reasons for work-related pain include:

• Stress from prolonged sitting or standing
• Prolonged periods of time spent looking down
• Cradling the receiver between the neck and shoulder while talking on the telephone
• Bending over to write
• Job related stress
• Improper posture
• Excess weight
• Past accidents
• Repetitive movements such as typing or lifting boxes

But most of these ailments can be prevented by following these simple measures:

• Exercise daily
• Sit up straight
• Make your work area and your home ergonomically correct
• Take 15 to 30-second breaks every half-hour to stretch
• Make sure that your spine is aligned
• Wear comfortable, padded footwear
• When lifting, use your legs and face the object you are lifting
• Lose weight if necessary
• Explore devices such as wrist rests to help you work more comfortably

Remember, it's easier to prevent ailments now than it is to cure them later.