Unbelievably, back pain is the leading global cause of disability worldwide<\/a>, according to the World Health Organisation<\/a>. In London, an estimated one-third of the adult population are affected by back issues each year. And this figure is reflected nationally. According to the Office for National Statistics, back pain accounts for 31 million days of work lost annually<\/a> which costs the UK economy \u00a314 billion a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst our sedentary lifestyle is\nlargely to blame, experts claim that a few simple changes in the workplace can\nhelp to reduce the risk and relieve symptoms of back pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSedentary office occupations can cause back pain as a result of inactivity between back muscles and the spine – but this is not the only factor. A combination of high workload, posture, job dissatisfaction or fear over termination can increase the occurrence of back pain at work,\u201d says Stephan Huber, Chief Medical Officer at Kaia Health<\/a>, whose Kaia back pain app is the first and only to be medically approved in the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stephan claims that a few simple\nchanges can help Londoners to\nreduce the risk of back pain in the workplace. These include walking and talking\nduring a phone call as this increases movement and circulation. Taking a break\nfrom the screen every 30 minutes for at least two minutes is also recommended\nas it helps to avoid a back-busting slouched position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These measures will come as some\nrelief to London employees given that 1 in 5 gave up their job or reduced hours\nbecause of their back pain condition. In another study, 63% in higher\nmanagerial jobs attributed their back pain to bad posture, and took more days\noff sick for back pain than any other type of employee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other simple measures Stephan recommends\nto relieve back pain at work include exercising regularly at your desk,\nincluding arm stretches and neck rolls which can help to keep joints supple and\nhealthy. Walking over to and talking\nwith a colleague rather than emailing them is also recommended as it helps to break\nthe cycle of bad posture. Arranging a workplace assessment to optimise the\nseating position and workstation will ensure a happier, healthier back.\nMeditation for 10 minutes daily can also help Londoners to be mindful of the\ninfluence workplace stress and strain has on them and their daily lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To help end the epidemic of back pain in the workplace, experts at Kaia have created a video with 10 exercises to relieve back pain that you can do at work. These include hip circles and upper body rotations, and are really easy to perform from the comfort of your desk, or a quiet spot in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n