How to prevent shoulder pain when working from home

Written in association with: Mr Ziali Sivardeen
Published:
Edited by: Laura Burgess

Are your shoulders aching more since you've been working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic? If you are not careful, sitting in the wrong position can cause muscle pain, especially if you spend hours slouched on the sofa instead of upright in an office chair! We spoke to one of our orthopaedic surgeons Mr Ziali Sivardeen what possible shoulder injuries may occur and how they can be prevented.

Shoulder pain can be a common problem when working from home.

What are common shoulder injuries that might be a result of WFH?

Shoulder injuries and pain are common in people who work at home. The abnormal posture when someone crouches over a laptop for several hours each day can lead to tendonitis, bursitis and impingement of the shoulder. The altered mechanics around the shoulder, which result from this abnormal posture, can lead to injuries when people play sport or train in the gym.
 

Why is it important to get shoulder pain looked at as early as possible?

Any shoulder pain is worth getting looked at soon before something simple to deal with develops into something a lot harder, which may need surgery. Most problems require physiotherapy.
 

Is it difficult to treat shoulder pain at the moment during the pandemic?

Although there is a pandemic, people can be assessed easily by a specialist via video consultation. Scans can be organised, treatment can be started and even surgery can be organised if required. Shoulder pain can be managed at home with simple pain relief but most problems need simple physiotherapy exercises.
 

How can shoulder pain be prevented when working from home?

It may be tempting to sit on the sofa whilst you WFH but it’s important to avoid sitting in a sedentary environment and to be aware of your posture. Take regular mini-breaks, stretch and shake out your arms and hands. If it is possible, try to go for 10-minute walks every couple of hours throughout the day.

Where possible, adjust your working space and try to ensure that your desk is level with your elbows when you are seated. Your computer monitor should be kept at arm's length. Try to keep things that you regularly need within easy reach to avoid regularly twisting or stretching to pick them up. 


If you would like to see Mr Sivardeen about your shoulder pain, you can book an appointment to see him via his Top Doctor's profile here.

By Mr Ziali Sivardeen
Orthopaedic surgery

 
Ziali Sivardeen is an orthopaedic surgeon who has been honoured to see many patients including elite level athletes, world cup winners, celebrities, and the royal family during his career.
 
During the London 2012 Olympics, Mr Sivardeen worked at the Olympic Athlete’s Village and had the honour of being selected as the surgeon who operated on all olympians and paralympians that required shoulder or elbow surgery during the games. Due to his role, Mr Sivardeen was invited to a special reception in Buckingham Palace.
 
He has seen and helped manage many athletes with knee problems, including those linked to Premiership football clubs, and has treated many sports people with ACL injuries, cartilage and meniscal tears.
 
Mr Sivardeen has held important positions training other surgeons, representing the prestigious Royal Colleges of Surgeons, first as a tutor from 2010-2014, before being appointed as one of two Regional Surgical Advisors for London. In 2015, he organised the pan London Sports and Exercise Medicine teaching programme, and now is an examiner for the Prestigious Intercollegiate Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS exams).   He has been a member of the Specialist Training Committee for Sports and Exercise Medicine Trainees in London from 2009 to 2015, so played an important part helping to develop this new speciality.
 
On the NHS, he worked as the surgical lead or joint service lead of the Sports Injury Service at Homerton University Hospital from 2009 to 2015.
 
His research interests include orthopaedic shoulder and knee problems, including sports injuries in elite rugby players. He had in excess of 70 presentations accepted at prestigious national and international meetings by 2012.  At the main World Shoulder and Elbow Meeting (ISCES) in 2010 his research was the only piece from the UK that was short-listed for the best prize and he was invited to give an educational talk to other surgeons from around world at the next World Shoulder and Elbow Meeting (ISCES) held in Japan in 2013.
 
He is one of the few consultant orthopaedic surgeons in the UK trained by 3 Presidents of National Orthopaedic Societies at Fellowship Level and has a passion for teaching and training.  He has run many London Sports Injury Symposia and has been invited around the world to deliver lectures, and master classes teaching other surgeons, consultants and practitioners.

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