Hidden risks for employees sitting all day, lifting heavy loads – Physiotherapist warns

In the rush to meet deadlines and move from one task to the next, many workers overlook how the job is affecting their body.

According to physiotherapist Jana Edghill, that oversight is one of the main reasons so many people end up dealing with preventable workplace injuries.

Drawing on years of experience, Edghill told the News Room that a common issue she sees is a lack of movement throughout the workday, something that significantly increases the risk of strain and long-term injury.

As Guyana observes Occupational Health and Safety Month, in keeping with the global observance on April 28, she is urging workers to pay closer attention to ergonomics and intentional exercise.

“What can you do to strengthen certain muscles that will aid you in your work? Just get moving, start getting healthy, making sure that your exercises are intentional, and you can prevent certain workplace injuries that way,” she said.

Edghill’s work focuses on both treating injuries and helping patients return to optimal function, but she stressed that prevention is just as important.

Among the most common issues she treats are back, neck and shoulder pain, wrist injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome and other conditions caused by repetitive movement.

“Everyone has back pain. It has no name, no face, no age, and it’s one of the world’s leading causes of workplace injuries,” she said.

She explained that people in a wide range of jobs—from office workers and typists to cooks—are at risk, especially when they repeat the same movements daily without proper support.

To reduce that risk, Edghill said workers must pay attention to ergonomics, which focuses on aligning the work environment with the body to improve comfort and reduce strain.

“It really starts from looking at your environment and identifying where possible injuries can come from,” she said.

For office workers, that includes using a comfortable chair, maintaining proper posture and avoiding slouching. She advised that arms should rest gently without pressure and that seating should allow for a clear line of sight without straining the neck or shoulders.

She also encouraged workers to take regular breaks.

“If you know you will be sitting for a while, you should get up every hour and do some stretches,” she said, noting that early intervention is key to preventing more serious injuries.

But the issue is not limited to office settings.

Edghill said bus drivers, construction workers and porters—those who spend long hours driving or lifting heavy loads—often fail to prepare their bodies for the physical demands of their jobs.

“We have our construction workers who do a lot of lifting. It takes a strain on their joints, and chances are they are not doing a lot of things to curb that, or maybe they are not aware of what they can do,” she said.

Her message is simple—whether sitting at a desk or working in physically demanding environments, small, intentional changes can make a significant difference in preventing injuries and protecting long-term health.