Dwayne Pittman of Virginia Beach has experienced a client base shift since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dwayne Pittman, a massage therapist, points out that more people are now studying massage therapy to counteract some of the potential dangers of remote work. As businesses shift to remote work, many people are transitioning from sturdy desks and chairs to couches or recliners at home. Sitting for long periods of time is bad enough for the spine, but when people sit for long periods of time with poor posture, it can lead to many serious problems.
Consider the fact that remote workers typically work 9-hour days. With commuting a thing of the past, many employees can simply roll out of bed and work directly on their laptops. During those nine hours, action may be limited to the occasional trip to the bathroom and a quick walk downstairs for lunch. Lack of moving around can cause physical harm. Many remote workers notice that they don’t have as much energy or motivation as during their usual commute. This is because the increase in bad posture and hunching over at makeshift desks increases our fatigue. Dwayne Pittman of Virginia Beach lists five major disadvantages of remote work:
- bad posture
- Can not move
- increased pressure
- Productivity decline
- weak immune system
Spending long hours in front of a screen every day is taxing on the human body. Dwayne Pittman points out that many people are sitting in front of their phones or tablets right after work. This doesn’t provide a lot of time for mental rest. Customers know they can always reach others because their work email is conveniently kept on their phone. Dwayne Pittman recommends regular visits to a licensed massage therapist as one of the best ways to deal with the mental and physical toll of remote work.
When arriving at a massage therapist appointment, Dwayne Pittman recommends telling the massage therapist about any specific pain points. For example, some of the most common pain areas for remote workers include the back, shoulders, and neck. A good massage therapist will spend extra time targeting sore muscles to increase blood flow, which will help reduce pain and tension.
Because massage therapy forces people to put away their phones and unplug from the digital world, there may be some incredible mental health benefits. Prolonged sitting has been linked to increased likelihood of anxiety, stress and depression. The increased blood flow and relaxation induced by massage can help combat these conditions. Dwayne Pittman of Virginia Beach also recommends getting outside and enjoying nature from time to time. Humans derive so many health benefits from moderate exposure to sunlight that multiple studies have shown that it can improve a person’s mood. Combining a walk in the park with a massage is a great way to rejuvenate yourself.
A common thing for people who work on their laptops all day is that they start to lose some flexibility and range of motion. In addition to getting out of bed now and then and engaging in some common stretches, Dwayne Pittman recommends deep-tissue massage to help keep your joints flowing. This is critical to reducing the possibility of injury. A moving body is a capable body.
Any employee who notices that they have a more challenging time staying healthy while working remotely should consider spending time with a massage therapist. Massage therapy can increase white blood cells, so-called “natural killer” cells. These cells respond rapidly to virus-infected cells. A routine massage by a trained massage therapist can help boost the immune system and help anyone stave off a cold.
