Sore neck using laptop wfh

[candle18]

Anyone else finding their neck/back is sore due to using a laptop all the time? My laptop is quite small and my neck’s got really sore looking down at it all the time but if I raise it higher it’s uncomfortable typing. Think I’m going to have to take more breaks and do some stretches.

There is no way on earth that anything will make it more comfortable - they aren't designed with DSE in mind. I have a home office, as do some of my staff - I made all the others strip the office of monitors and keyboards! It is really bad for you to work on a laptop for a working day, and it can cause serious muscular-skeletal issues very, very quickly. In the longer term it can do serious damage. Your employer ought to be acting more responsibly. They have a legal duty to look after your health, coronavirus / lockdown or not.

Raise the laptop and get a separate USB keyboard and mouse. Even better use a bigger screen and use the laptop to drive that. My laptop sits to the side and is connected to my 24" screen which is the correct height, and a separate keyboard/mouse. Do you have a docking station?

Laptop riser and a separate keyboard and mouse is the best way to avoid this and to be honest your employer should be providing if at all possible. I’ve borrowed equipment from the office, including a proper chair, keyboard, mouse and monitor riser, and a second screen to allow me to work better.

Thanks all. I hadn’t actually thought of a separate keyboard and possibly monitor for some reason but that sounds like a good idea. Will speak to my employer tomorrow about it.

I wfh all the time anyway - my work computer is a laptop but as standard the company provides a docking station, keyboard, mouse and a monitor (and I've got an extra one).

Try to get whichever peripherals will help you most. But definitely do take breaks and do stretches, neck rolls etc. There's various 'seated yoga' type of routines which might be useful.nI've got an Apple Watch which is good for reminding me to stand up/ move around every hour - suggest you set a timer or use the calendar on your computer to remind you to move. I think wfh there can be less distractions, no colleagues coming to ask questions etc to break your attention from the screen so bad positioning can be exacerbated by sitting too long.

I bought a separate keyboard and have plonked the laptop on a few books so the screen height raised and I’m not gazing down all day. Simple changes but it’s made so much difference, I haven’t had a headache since

I wfh'd for 2 years without proper equipment and ended up slipping a disc. I ended up buying a cheap ergo/adjustable chair off Amazon and a laptop dtand/keyboard/ mouse.

Probs came to just over £100 in all. Dont risk your health!

I sympathise. I have known msk issues which my normal work exacerbates. Using a laptop is causing me neck pain too. No chance of getting any other equipment from work. I can’t work at a table with it - I find the least painful position to be on the bed supported by a lot of cushions.

We bought a large screen for home working and share it, connected to laptop. Cost about £200.

A laptop stand is your friend @PaperMonster. They can be bought fairly cheaply. You need to have your screen at eye level to avoid straining your neck.

I have a wireless keyboard, was not too expensive, and a separate mouse. You really need these.

I also bought a laptop stand but to be honest you could just use a pile of cookbooks if you didn’t want to get one!

You can get a stand that means your laptop is fully open and the keyboard is almost horisontal, add a keyboard and mouse.

Under the DSA part of the health and safety at work act you shouldn't be using a laptop for your main work.

But I'm not sure if it applies when you are working from home.
www.ebuyer.com/363324-3m-lx550-laptop-riser-lx550

I wrote this article for the sun on this. I’m a physio and Pilates instructor (and mum of three). I hope it helps xx

www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/11527601/tips-improve-posture-reduce-back-pain-working-home/

@CloudsCanLookLikeSheep thanks! Thankfully neck’s feeling much improved due to half term - but need to look into that for going back next week. Ugh.

Good stuff, Emily!

Doing an online Pilates class of some sort can be good - I was so pleased when my instructor started zoom classes.

And good tips re seating. My company was very good - they were ahead of the curve on seeing that people would be needing to work from home and told colleagues who didn't have a suitable chair for work at home to get one and claim on expenses. (I already had one, of course - and footrest &back pillow)

I bought a separate keyboard and have plonked the laptop on a few books so the screen height raised and I’m not gazing down all day. Simple changes but it’s made so much difference, I haven’t had a headache since
This. I did the same (+ separate mouse), it works perfectly (and I spend long days coding!)