4人に1人が肩こりに悩んでいる！働く女性の健康問題をデータから考える　職場改善応援メディア　立ち仕事のミカタ

One in four people are aware of "chronic shoulder stiffness"! Health issues for working women and the impact on standing jobs

Introduction <br>As more women enter the workforce, health issues facing working women are attracting attention. According to a survey by the NLI Research Institute, one in four women complain of chronic shoulder pain, and it is revealed that mental stress has the greatest impact on work. It is also estimated that the annual labor loss due to menstrual symptoms amounts to 491.1 billion yen. In this article, we will introduce the reality of these health issues and measures to reduce the burden on women who work while standing.

NLI Research Institute
Working women's subjective symptoms (health problems) - One in four women are aware of "chronic shoulder stiffness," and "mental stress" is the most common problem at work... In this article, we use the results of our "Survey on Employee Working Styles and Health" to focus on working women and summarize the results of a survey on subjective symptoms (health problems). In this survey, we looked at the following:
table of contents
  1. 1. The reality of health issues facing working women
    1. 1-1. Is stiff shoulder common among women who work at a desk?
    2. 1-2. Mental stress has the biggest impact on work
    3. 1-3. Impact of menstrual symptoms
  2. 2. Health precautions that women who work standing up should take
    1. 2-1. Measures to prevent stiff shoulders and back pain caused by standing at work
    2. 2-2. Measures to relieve mental stress
    3. 2-3. Measures for menstrual symptoms
  3. 3. Corporate health management and creating a comfortable working environment for women
  4. summary
  5. Do you have any problems with standing for long periods of time?
  6. A new idea called "standing rest" that reduces the strain of standing posture!
  7. Device to reduce the strain of standing work
  8. Reduce physical stress
  9. Related articles

1. The reality of health issues facing working women

1-1. Is stiff shoulder common among women who work at a desk?

According to a survey, 25.8% of women suffer from chronic shoulder stiffness. This is especially prevalent among those who work at a desk and spend long periods of time sitting down. Shoulder stiffness occurs when tension in the neck and back muscles leads to poor blood circulation, causing pain and stiffness.

The main causes of stiff shoulders

  • Sitting for long periods of time
  • Hunching or stooping posture
  • Muscle weakness due to lack of exercise
  • Stress-related muscle tension

1-2. Mental stress has the biggest impact on work

Among working women, 25.5% answered that they "feel stressed," and it is considered to be the health problem that has the greatest impact on work. Stress can cause a decrease in concentration and increased fatigue, leading to a decline in work performance.

Symptoms of working women
Symptoms that most affected your work

1-3. Impact of menstrual symptoms

The estimated annual labor losses due to menstrual disorders are 491.1 billion yen. However, a survey showed that only 9.0% of women were aware of menstrual-related disorders. This is thought to be because in some cases women perceive the symptoms as "stiff shoulders" or "stress" and do not realize that menstruation is the cause.

2. Health precautions that women who work standing up should take

2-1. Measures to prevent stiff shoulders and back pain caused by standing at work

Standing jobs can easily cause shoulder and back pain due to long periods of time spent in the same position. The following methods are effective in preventing this.

✅ Ideas to reduce the burden of standing work

  • Maintain good posture : Keep your back straight and your weight evenly distributed
  • Choose shoes with cushioning : Reduce strain on your feet
  • Moderate stretching : Rotate your shoulders and stretch your legs regularly
  • Tips for sitting during breaks : Ensure time to sit and reduce strain on legs and back

2-2. Measures to relieve mental stress

Standing jobs can easily lead to mental stress due to interpersonal relationships at work and the strain of the work. Try to find ways to reduce stress.

✅ Stress management

  • Set aside some time to relax
  • Boosting communication in the workplace
  • Practice deep breathing and mindfulness
  • Relieve stress through hobbies and exercise

2-3. Measures for menstrual symptoms

Providing an environment where women with menstrual disorders can work comfortably is also important for corporate health management.

✅ Consideration for menstrual disorders

  • Introduction of flexible working hours (adjustment of break times, utilization of remote work)
  • Use warming products (use hand warmers and hot water bottles to keep your body warm)
  • Creating a menstrual-friendly workplace environment (introducing femtech, setting up a consultation desk)

3. Corporate health management and creating a comfortable working environment for women

When companies support the health of working women, it also leads to improved labor productivity. From the perspective of health management, it is important to adopt the following measures.

✅ Health support that companies can provide

  • Utilizing the stress check system
  • Improving the work environment (adjusting chairs and desks)
  • Introduction of femtech products (provision of sanitary products, use of health management apps)
  • Providing adequate rest areas

summary

Among the health problems faced by working women, stiff shoulders, stress, and menstrual symptoms are major issues. In particular, women who work standing up are more susceptible to back pain and leg strain, so it is important to take appropriate measures. Companies can also improve productivity and reduce turnover by establishing systems to support women's health as part of their health management.

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