| When you are working out in the field or in a | | | | jobs, power press operators, welders, painters, |
| construction site, the manual labor required would | | | | assembly line workers. |
| definitely take a toll on your body, especially if | | | | If you're stuck behind a desk from nine to five, |
| you have been doing it for a number of years. | | | | the best position to be in is to form a 90 degree |
| But what if all you do is sit around in front of | | | | angle between your elbow and your shoulders. To |
| your computer from nine to five? The nature of | | | | prevent shoulder strains from occurring, make |
| this type of work may not require any muscular | | | | sure to keep your shoulders relaxed while sitting |
| power, but you still are at risk of acquiring certain | | | | down and working. |
| types of diseases from being in the same position | | | | Again, it is a must to make sure that the |
| for too long a time. | | | | computer monitor is at an eye level when you |
| Both the business owners and office furniture | | | | are sitting down. This makes it easier to balance |
| manufacturers have recognized the fact that the | | | | your head above your shoulders so as not to |
| layout of the modern workplace causes a | | | | cause it any strain if you're holding the same |
| different type of stress to your body. | | | | position for a long time. |
| Fortunately, researchers have found a way to | | | | 3. Ergonomically Affected Body Parts: Fingers, |
| create that delicate balance between your body | | | | Hands and Wrists |
| and your working environment, with the help of | | | | Possible Diseases: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De |
| ergonomics. | | | | Quervain's Disease, trigger finger, Tenosynovitis, |
| It's All About Ergonomics | | | | white finger. |
| Basically, ergonomics is the study of the relation | | | | Causes: Repetitive movements using the fingers, |
| between man and his working environment. What | | | | hands and wrists, exposure to vibration, forceful |
| is involved here is studying the nature of the job, | | | | wrist motions. |
| the design of the equipment and even the | | | | Symptoms: Pain at the base of the thumbs; |
| positioning of the furniture in a workplace to | | | | difficulty moving the fingers; involuntary snapping |
| ensure that an individual will not suffer from | | | | or jerking movements; pain; swelling; numbness; |
| repetitive strain injuries. | | | | tingling; loss of feeling or control on the hands |
| Let's say that you do have a desk job which you | | | | Workers Affected: Housekeepers, packers, |
| have been holding down for more than a decade. | | | | seamstresses, cutters, electronic assemblers, |
| If you do not practice ergonomics in the way | | | | chain saw operators, cashiers, manual laborers |
| that you sit down in front of your computer, or | | | | As you can see, the fingers, hands and wrists are |
| even the simple task of using the mouse, it can | | | | the three most interconnected body parts which |
| lead to repetitive strain injuries and can even | | | | experience strain if you don't practice |
| result to long-term disabilities. | | | | ergonomically correct movements. |
| Aside from preventing injuries, the other purposes | | | | This is exactly the reason why you should mind |
| of designing ergonomically-sound office furniture | | | | the way that you're typing on your keyboard or |
| and equipment includes reducing operator fatigue | | | | holding the mouse. |
| and avoiding discomfort. | | | | Using keyboard shortcuts is also a good idea so |
| According to the US Department of Labor | | | | that your use of the mouse can be limited. For |
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration, | | | | manual laborers, the same set of rules applies: |
| ergonomics should be learned by those whose | | | | always use ergonomically sound movements to |
| daily tasks in the workplace include: | | | | prevent any undue strain or injury on your |
| 1. Exposure to excessive vibration or extreme | | | | fingers, hands and wrists. |
| temperatures in the workplace. | | | | 4. Ergonomically Affected Body Part: Back |
| 2. Lifting heavy items. | | | | Possible Diseases: Back disability or numbing pain in |
| 3. Repeating the same motion within an entire | | | | the upper legs |
| workday. | | | | Causes: Whole body vibration |
| 4. Remaining in an awkward or stationary position. | | | | Symptoms: Lower back pain, shooting |
| 5. Using excessive force to perform a particular | | | | Workers Affected: Truck drivers, bus operators, |
| task. | | | | warehouse workers, nurse aides, grocery |
| If you don't stick to ergonomically sound practices | | | | cashiers, baggage handlers. |
| in the workplace, the result could be MSD or | | | | To prevent from injuring your back, make sure |
| musculoskeletal disorders such as injuries and | | | | that you don't make it a habit to be in a hunched |
| disorders of the ligaments, joints, muscles, | | | | position when sitting down or standing up. Keep |
| tendons, cartilage and the damage can even | | | | your head erect while walking or sitting down. |
| extend to the nervous system. | | | | Make sure that your lower back is always |
| Some of the types of MSD's and work-related | | | | supported - this is the number one reason why |
| injuries that you may suffer from not following | | | | office chairs with adequate lumbar support is a |
| the rules of ergonomics include: | | | | must-have. |
| 1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | | | | Also, make sure to not stay in the same position |
| 2. Herniated discs | | | | for too long a time. Stand up or walk around a bit |
| 3. Lower back pain | | | | if you feel that your back muscles are already |
| 4. Sciatica | | | | feeling some strain. |
| 5. Tendinitis | | | | 5. Ergonomically Affected Body Parts: Pelvis |
| The 6 Body Parts Involved in the Science of | | | | & Hips |
| Ergonomics | | | | Possible Diseases: Muscle strain |
| Now that you already have an idea about the | | | | Causes: Being on your feet for too long. |
| basics of ergonomics, which body parts are most | | | | Symptoms: Shooting pain starting from the pelvis |
| susceptible to MSD's or work-related strains and | | | | going to the hips. |
| injuries? | | | | Workers Affected: Those who need to be on |
| Take a look at the list of the most ergonomically | | | | their feet for eight hours or more a day. |
| body parts that you should take extreme care | | | | If your job requires you to literally keep standing |
| of, if you don't want to suffer from an MSD or a | | | | for the most part of the day, it will cause a strain |
| debilitating work-related strain or injury: | | | | to your pelvis and hips. |
| 1. Ergonomically Affected Body Part: Neck | | | | It's a good idea to stand straight at all times but |
| Possible Diseases: Neck strain or stiffness | | | | in order to temporarily relieve the tension in your |
| Causes: Cradling the phone between your neck | | | | pelvis and hips, alternately put your weight on |
| and shoulder; looking down for a long period of | | | | your left and right leg. [Leg Pain] |
| time, too much strain in the neck muscles while | | | | Using a leg rest will also help, and sitting down |
| working. | | | | within short periods of time at regular intervals will |
| Symptoms: Pain shooting in the neck when | | | | also give you the rest that you need from being |
| moving your head in either direction. | | | | on your feet for too long. |
| Workers Affected: Receptionists, workers with | | | | 6. Ergonomically Affected Body Parts: Feet and |
| desk jobs. | | | | Ankles |
| The best way to prevent your neck from being | | | | Possible Diseases: Muscle strain |
| strained while working is to sit up straight while | | | | Causes: Being on your feet for too long, placing |
| working at your desk. When sitting down, adjust | | | | too much stress on your foot from being |
| your computer chair in such a way that the | | | | overweight. |
| monitor is at your eye level so you won't have to | | | | Symptoms: Discomfort in the heels of your feet |
| look down for a long period of time. This is also a | | | | from standing up or putting too much stress into |
| great way to prevent eye strain. | | | | it. |
| If you have to stay in the phone for a long time, | | | | Workers Affected: Sales representatives in |
| use a speakerphone, or at least switch the | | | | department stores, those who need to be on |
| handset from one hand to another frequently to | | | | their feet for eight hours or more a day. |
| prevent neck strains. | | | | Finally, your feet and ankles may also be subject |
| 2. Ergonomically Affected Body Part: Shoulders | | | | to undue strain if you are up on your feet almost |
| Possible Diseases: Shoulder strain or stiffness, | | | | the entire day. |
| Rotator cuff tendinitis | | | | Aside from the nature of your job, being |
| Causes: Constantly leaning your head to the front, | | | | overweight may also lead to strain and injury on |
| always slumping your shoulders; working with | | | | your feet and ankles, so make sure to always |
| your hands above your head. | | | | eat right and exercise. When sitting down, make |
| Symptoms: Pain shooting in the shoulders when | | | | sure that both your feet are flat on the floor to |
| you move. | | | | prevent strain to your legs as well. |
| Workers Affected: Employees holding down desk | | | | |