I will say first off that I find myself correcting my posture and head tilt every 5 mins, but the damage is already done. Some days I can't even focus on any audio tasks and it's time to see what I can do about it. I had one engineering friend mention Eagle Syndrome?! The symptoms do look about right.

Anyhow, has anyone encountered severe enough issues to cause their work to be affected? Was there anything that helped?

Many Thanks! Ouch

 

You probably don't have an erganomic environment, happens in offices a lot.

one: use a corrector
two: fix your space

https://www.hobbr.com/best-posture-correctors-office/

 

Make sure that if you have the extra dough, invest in a good chair. My friend's sister got me one from her office building when it closed down and it was like the one I used to have at an old job. It probably costs about $1,000 but it's SO worth it and your body will thank you. Also, stretch, exercise and take breaks throughout the day where you walk around. I can't tell you how much that makes a difference. Hope you feel better.

 

you need to train and stabilize your core
plus extras on shoulder training

most of your symptoms should feel alleviation after a few days
strong alleviation after a month!

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried numerous chairs but to no avail. It may be due to my shorter stature, being that most chairs are modeled around average height (5'8"?) I would even go as far as to wear a neck brace just so I CAN'T mess up. Getting up, moving around, and stretching def do help a lot, but I almost forget to. When I'm mixing, I set hour timers mostly to combat ear fatique, but I should start doing that for every other instance too (editing glues me in pain ha).

One thing I loved was using a VR headset to mirror my screen while laying down. Unfortunately lag and general slowness made it not worth it at all.

Thanks again

 

Actually, the yoga ball could be good...or any of the "forced" balance type things. I use that shark fin mouse already ha, love that thing! Also those kneeling chairs made me feel much worse, I thought it would be great but I literally just had to sell mine.

 

I have the same problem and since I'm shortsighted it's even worse, because I tend to lean my neck forward in a unnatural way, to see what's going on on the screen better. Most of the older audio engineering guys don't look too healthy too, I noticed this a couple of times.

 

Can you recommend any tutorial showing how to exercise these body parts in the correct way?

 

What works for me is to take regular breaks. Something like 10 minutes every hour or so.

As a smoker that's a given for me, but still even if you're in the zone take some time. Make a cup of tea or something.

 

ergonomics! and a break for the ears and body!

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=core+workout

 

I like this. It's funny, I had an acoustics engineer once measure a room for me....now I need someone to measure me.

 

Future Composers/Producers/Audio Engineers be like..
https://i.imgur.com/4HWwlBk.jpg

Ergo what?

 

Last edited: Mar 31, 2021

You've probably heard most of what anyone can really say to you, save for maybe a couple of things. But first, I'll echo the ergonomics talk as well as regular breaks. I have the same bad habit. My wife and I have gone through back / neck / shoulder problems as we're on computers a lot for work, in addition to gaming and such.

When thinking ergonomics, don't overlook monitor size/placement too. If you've got large monitors that are in an awkward viewing position that can really cause you to crank your neck too much too. You want to try and keep things at a level where you don't have to move your head or eyes around too much.

Also, consider something such as massage therapy (not the feel good massage stuff, but the deep tissue stuff that doesn't make you feel so great the next day) or physio. Both can have pretty good results. My wife has a pinched nerve in her shoulder currently and is going through physio for it. It's been helpful. I've had some success with it for other injuries too.

 

calculate with Sonarwork!

 

no because i make sure to get a workout in everyday weither it be a run or weights

 

The main issue is clear, your sitting position. For smaller and taller people the problem is not the much the chairs, you can adjust them pretty much or find a fitting one, but the desk height and monitor position - and too weak muscles aka too less movement.

The attached pic from @flush with your foot is quite helpful if the desk fits.
You also need to strengthen your back (neck, shoulder) muscles. Take into consideration that training for 10 minutes a day can't cope with sitting wrongly for hours.
But at first you should visit an orthopadeist and a physio. They'll help you to fix acute symptoms and can show you how to sit and train properly.

 

Move it or lose it. You have to stretch before a session, during breaks and then afterwards...every day behind the desk and also on those days you are not. In order to get in front of it so that you can physically, mentally and psychically learn how to do so, a massage therapist that does deep tissue work to break up and strech the fascia that is keeping you locked up through muscle memory. Too, the right chiropractor to help open up those energetically locked up places. A knowledgeable acupuncturist would be a goodnthing too. Drinking oodles of water, eating healthily and getting outside into the sunshine to be nurtured by the sun's healing vibe is a must.

Yoga, dancing, trampoline jumping, walking a couple of miles....

 

Lois Lane Oh yes, water.. seems like such a trivial thing, but completely agree. I used to (and still do sometimes) have a tendency to go too long without drinking water and that leads to all sorts of aches. It really does make a big difference. Not juice.. not coffee.. not pop.. these are diuretics.... water.

 

Water yes, the solitary thing we can survive on for 30 days...and yet I still have days I forget to drink it. I've been wanting to try deep tissue massage. I have had great luck with the chiro...just moved and still searching for a new one. I swear the first time I went, it not only made my vision and breathing better, but it also helped my back too ha. I think 13%+ curvature is considered scoliosis...I'm rockin 11%.

Thanks, everyone. This has all been very helpful and motivational.

Also, this is perfection...