Adopting uncomfortable postures for long periods of time is a major risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Teleworking involves working from home, which is not always suited to ergonomic recommendations. The lucky ones can work from a desk, but others have to make do with a corner of a chair or a table.

Risks associated with workstation design

An unsuitable home workstation can cause postural strain on the upper limbs (shoulders, elbows, wrists) and spine (cervical, dorsal, lumbar).

For example:

• Using a laptop with a small screen, touchpad, and built-in keyboard.
• Not having a separate keyboard and mouse.
• Working somewhere other than at a desk (dining table, coffee table).
• Using a chair that is not designed for this purpose and cannot be adjusted.

In addition, prolonged static posture is likely to cause muscle fatigue by constantly straining the muscles responsible for maintaining this posture. This is particularly the case during prolonged screen use or intensive use of the keyboard or mouse, which can eventually lead to the development of MSDs.

The most common MSDs in teleworking are:

• - Neck pain
• - Lower back pain and sciatica
• - Shoulder pain: tendinitis of the rotator cuff tendons
• - Elbow pain: epicondylitis, epitrochleitis, ulnar nerve compression
• - Hand and wrist pain: Quervain's tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome

How can you prevent MSDs when working from home?

Here are some possible actions you can take to limit the impact of teleworking on MSDs:

• Incorporate regular active breaks into your day, ideally every hour, taking one to two minutes to move around.
• The company provides its employees with comfortable equipment for working from home
• Be aware of ergonomic recommendations for adapting workstations and apply them
• Get some physical activity during the day to compensate for the many hours spent sitting down