Posture Matters: How Physical Therapy Can Improve Workplace Ergonomics
Let’s be honest — most of us along the Front Range do not have perfect desk setups. Some of us work from kitchen counters, others cram into home offices with a dining chair that once belonged to a relative. Even in downtown offices, the chair might wobble, the monitor sits too low, and the keyboard forces your wrists into a crooked angle.
At first, it feels harmless. Then a dull neck ache settles in. Or you notice you keep stretching your lower back every time you stand up. You rub one shoulder every night without even thinking about it. These patterns creep up little by little, and before you know it, pain becomes part of your workday.
How It Usually Starts
One of our clients told us she began remote work at her kitchen island. She sat tall with coffee and confidence on week one. By week three she was hunched like a pretzel, hips twisted, shoulders sloped, and a pinch right between the shoulder blades. She figured it was just stress.
Another client said he did not realize his laptop screen was causing him to lean forward until his partner pointed out he looked like he was squinting at a campfire.
These are not rare stories. They are normal.
What Physical Therapy Actually Does
People assume physical therapy means ice packs and big elastic bands. Sometimes, yes. But when it comes to workplace ergonomics, it starts differently.
A therapist looks at how you sit, where your joints lock up, and how certain muscles overwork because others are not helping. They might notice you always cross one leg over the other. Or that your head shifts forward every time you type. They connect those habits to the discomfort you feel and help you break the cycle.
There is no lecture about “sitting up straight.” The goal is comfort that lasts, not stiff perfection that fades after ten minutes.
The Fixes Are Smaller Than You Think
One client said she thought she needed a whole new office setup. Turns out she just needed her screen two inches higher and a cushion behind her lower back. Another realized his feet were dangling off a tall stool, which threw off everything from his hips to his neck.
Physical therapy helps you make fixes that feel doable. You learn what to adjust, not just that something is wrong.
You might:
Uncurl your legs and plant your feet once in a while
Bring your screen to eye level instead of tilting your whole body
Stretch your chest after long meetings
Use a rolled towel for lumbar support instead of buying a fancy chair
Tiny adjustments add up. Many times, people feel relief before they even add exercises.
Strength Is Part of the Story Too
If your core is tired, your back pays for it. If your upper back muscles are weak, your shoulders round. If your hips get tight from driving or sitting, your spine follows along.
Physical therapists teach your body to support itself with less strain. Sometimes that means practicing simple movements in a chair. Other times it means stretching the parts that have quietly tightened over years of commuting and typing.
One client said the first time he could rotate his neck without feeling a crunch was after learning two tiny exercises that took less than five minutes.
Movement Breaks Count More Than Perfect Chairs
We tend to think solutions have to be complicated. Truth is, standing up to refill your water or stretching your arms overhead does more than you think.
A therapist might give you a two-move break you can do between Zoom calls. You do not need gym clothes or equipment. Just a minute of movement interrupts the slump.
Someone we worked with set a timer to stand every hour. At first, she felt silly. By week two, her lower back was not barking at her by lunchtime anymore.
Why This Matters in Colorado
Front Range folks are active. We hike Bergen Peak, bike the Cherry Creek Trail, ski on weekends, and haul kids to soccer fields. But Monday through Friday, many of us are parked at desks for hours.
Physical therapy fills that gap. It keeps desk work from spilling into the rest of your life. You should not have to skip hikes because your shoulders lock up after typing. You should not feel like stretching is a chore.
At Moberly Physical Therapy, we focus on what real days look like. Office workers deal with totally different setups than people working remotely. There is no one correct posture — there is only what keeps you pain-free and able to live normally.
You Do Not Need a Full Makeover
Start with one change. One stretch. One adjustment to how you sit. Notice how your body feels halfway through the day instead of waiting until 8 PM when your neck feels like stone.
If your desk job leaves you sore or stiff, therapy can reset old habits and give you tools that last. You spend too much of your life working to feel uncomfortable the whole time.
And the best part — none of this requires perfection. Just awareness, support, and a body that gets a fair chance to work with you instead of against you.
