Constantly shifting in your chair due to back pain? Taking frequent breaks to massage your aching wrists?
If so, you’re not alone. Arthritis pain at work is surprisingly common. About 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. live with arthritis, many of whom are active in the workforce and grappling with the challenge of balancing their responsibilities while managing chronic pain.
Joint pain is caused by inflammation, joint damage, or a combination of both. It often impacts weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and spine, but it can also affect smaller joints like the fingers and wrists—especially if your job involves repetitive hand movements.
To provide guidance, we consulted Dr. Thomas Kane III, an orthopedic and joint reconstruction surgeon, to outline strategies for managing arthritis pain in the workplace.
Ensure your chair provides good back support, your computer screen is at eye level, and your keyboard and mouse are positioned to minimize strain on your wrists. These changes can help reduce unnecessary pressure on your joints and alleviate pain caused by overuse.
Staying in one position for too long can make your joints stiff and painful. Inactivity increases pressure on the joints because the muscles surrounding them aren’t being properly engaged.
Gentle exercises, such as rotating your wrists or legs every 60 minutes, can improve circulation and help awaken sleepy muscles.
Using kinesiology tape is an easy and effective way to support your joints and manage arthritis pain during the workday. The tape helps by slightly lifting the skin, promoting better blood flow and reducing pressure on sore areas.
A study on knee arthritis found a significant reduction in knee pain with kinesiology tape, and similar results have been observed in other areas of the body.
Are there ways you can get the same job done while using less of your painful areas?
For example, if you experience arthritis in your hands or wrists, switching to voice typing or speech-to-text software can reduce strain from prolonged typing. Similarly, if your knees or hips are affected, plan tasks that require walking or standing for times when you feel less pain—often earlier in the day.
Arthritic pain is a symptom of joint inflammation or degradation. Left untreated, it can worsen over time, impairing quality of life. Fortunately, many treatments can help manage painful joints, including options to lower inflammation, such as steroid injections, and treatments to increase lubrication, like hyaluronic acid injections.
Because arthritis is a chronic, degenerative disease, halting its progression is key. Dr. Kane may recommend disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to some patients for this.
If the joint is severely damaged by arthritis, surgical interventions are also available to repair or replace the joints and improve your quality of life.
Solutions are available no matter the extent of the damage. Contact us to schedule an appointment at our office in Honolulu, Hawaii, and take the first step toward feeling better today.
