Tips to Combat Balance Problems at Work

Balance problems at work might seem like an issue you could overlook. You might chalk up balance problems as being clumsy. Tripping over floors or falling off chairs might be too coincidental to be a health issue. But once you noticed how it happens all too often, you might want to look into it.

Balance problems are more than just falling over while walking or sitting. People who might have balance problems could also experience sudden dizziness after sitting for long periods. It could also be the feeling of instability as you stand or walk. If you are feeling these symptoms, you might be dealing with some balance problems.

To understand balance problems better, let us dive into what is causing these issues. Are there any treatments available? Or maybe there are lifestyle changes needed to correct these problems? 

Read on to find out more about balance problems.

What are Balance Problems?

A balance problem could range from feeling dizzy or unsteady to a more extreme feeling of a spinning sensation. It might occur even when you are lying down, and you feel like the world is spinning around you. You might also feel like you are moving or floating, even when you are not. If you are walking, you might feel like you are about to fall over.

The feeling of dizziness could also vary from person to person. Some might experience it as a fleeting moment of faintness. But there are some people who share a more intense version of dizziness, more popularly known as vertigo.

To check if you are experiencing some balance problems, here are some symptoms associated with it:

• Dizziness
• Spinning Sensation or Vertigo
• Feeling of Falling
• Staggering When You’re Walking
• Faintness or Feeling Lightheaded
• Blurred Vision
• Confusion or Disorientation

 In more severe cases, these symptoms might even lead to experiencing nausea and vomiting. One could also experience anxiety or spikes in heart rate. Some severe cases may also lead to fear, panic, and anxiety. If it went unnoticed and untreated, balance problems could cause fatigue and depression.

What Causes Balance Problems?

1. Vertigo

Vertigo is not actually a diagnosis. Instead, it is a collection of symptoms. At least half of the human population is expected to experience one form of vertigo at least once in their lives. For some, it might come across as an intense feeling of spinning or out of balance.

Vertigo itself is not dangerous. But when one falls over and injures themselves in the process, it is then that it might get dangerous. For office workers, vertigo could lead to injury in the workspace if left unattended.

People with ear problems are more prone to experience vertigo. Often, the spinning sensation associated with vertigo can be traced to an improper arrangement of calcium crystals within our ear, responsible for our sense of balance. These calcium crystals act as our body’s natural compass. If dislodged from their proper place, they could send wrong motion signals in our brain. Ear specialists are trained to put these crystals back into place to treat vertigo.

2. Spinal Cord Injury

Damages on the spinal cord can also lead to serious balance problems. Because the spinal cord translates stimulus to the brain, any blockage can impede brain signals and cause balance problems. 

Spinal cord injuries happen from a variety of causes. It could be from an accident or bad habits formed over time. Office workers who sit for long periods hunched over their desks could also be prone to spinal cord injuries. Back problems could arise from bad posture habits, which could lead to balance problems.

Depending on how severe the spinal cord injury is, it is best to see a medical expert to check your health. Lifestyle changes such as correcting posture could also prevent any spinal cord injuries in the long run.

3. Sedentary Lifestyle

A study in 2016 has inferred that balance problems could be caused by physical inactivity. It may not be the direct cause of balance problems, but it could lead to some serious long-term health issues. 

Balancing is a locomotor skill that needs to be practiced every so often. By walking, jumping, and being active, we are practicing our balance skills. People with sedentary lifestyles are prone to several other issues, like cardiovascular diseases and mobility problems.

Tips to Combat Balance Problems at Work

Depending on the cause, there are several ways to prevent the severity of balance problems. It is always best to catch them while they are just beginning. Here are some ways to avoid the occurrence of balance problems at work:

1. Improve Your Diet

Eating a healthy and balanced diet has a lot of benefits. Not only does healthy eating help in improving your balance problems, but it also helps in keeping your general health well. Eating healthy foods that are rich in Vitamin D will help people who experience balance problems. People with less Vitamin D in their bodies are more likely to have balance problems, fall a lot, and have weakening bones.

2. Apply Ergonomics

Spinal cord injuries are no joke. Aside from balance problems, spinal cord injuries could lead to more severe health cases like paralysis. Start combatting this cause of balance problems by being more mindful of your posture. Build good posture habits. Applying ergonomics just makes this adjustment easier for your body.

Ergonomics is the science of fitting and building your workspace around your body’s strengths and weaknesses. It also means designing a workspace that makes reaching and working easier for your body. Adjusting your desk table top to appropriately match your height and using a chair that supports your lower back are just some of the ways ergonomics could help you adjust your posture. Ergonomics prevent balance problems, but it also enables you to work more productively.

Learn more about our ergonomics by reading our article on proper desk ergonomics.

3. Work Out More Often

Finding a way to exercise more often might be challenging, primarily if you work for more than eight hours a day. But trust the experts; an active lifestyle solves a myriad of health issues and prevents an equal number of them, too. 

Maybe going to the gym before work would work better for you. Squeezing in even just 20 minutes of some simple exercises is enough to keep your heart pumping at a reasonable rate. If these suggestions do not work well with your hectic schedule, fitting a treadmill walker at your desk will be better.

If treadmill walkers are a bit too much, perhaps a programmable standing desk could be better for you. This type of desk can be programmed to accommodate standing periodically. A standing desk is an excellent product to keep you active and fit.

Combating balance problems at work begins by identifying the causes of your dizziness or instability. It could be from vertigo, spinal health issues, or even lifestyle problems. Keeping yourself healthy by eating a good and natural diet is an excellent start to prevent balance problems. Keeping better posture also helps in avoiding balance problems. Applying ergonomics will help your body adjust easily to good postures, especially at work. Keeping yourself active also helps, as balance is a skill that needs to be practiced.

Applying ergonomics at your work not only helps in combating balance problems at work. It could also help in being more productive at work. To learn more, read our informative article on how to apply workplace ergonomics.