The German 'Back Health' movement has warned that office noise can lead to back pain. It explained that when the brain perceives noise as annoying, the stress response system is activated. The body releases cortisol, the pulse rate and blood pressure rise, muscles tense, and the neck and shoulders are particularly affected. This can lead to back pain in the long term. To prevent back pain, the German movement advised office workers to take the following important measures to combat office noise: block out distracting background noise, for example, by wearing noise-canceling headphones; make phone calls or hold meetings in closed rooms whenever possible; take regular short breaks, move around a little to relieve tension and relax tense muscles.
