HEALTH & FITNESS: The Importance Of Correct Ergonomics - Atlanta Jewish Times
Tova Jacobson
Special to the Jewish Times
As a massage therapist, I see the ill effects of people's lives every day. The most common complaints are neck, shoulders and lower back. The reason is that many people do not have a work environment that is ergonomically correct.
What is ergonomics, you ask? Wikipedia defines ergonomics as "the scientific discipline concerned with designing according to the human needs, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance."
In layman's terms, it's how we use our body in relation to the tools we need for work. If you work at a desk, it is the way you use your shoulder and neck muscles to access your computer and the way your body muscles hold your body in the seat you sit in. If you are on your feet all day, as a teacher for example, what shoes are you wearing? Where are your teaching props located? How often to do you have to bend down to help a child? All these things have a negative impact on the human body. The following are some suggestions to improve your health.
If you are a person who works at a desk, place yourself in your chair. Take time to notice the back support you are given and where you sit in relation to your computer. Are your arms relaxed and bent at the elbow when using the keyboard? Is your neck comfortable? Do your feet sit flat on the ground? If you answered no to any of these questions, your office space is not ergonomically correct. Take time to move your chair; you may need to raise or lower its height, and move your keyboard and screen so that your elbows are bent and your head is not leaning forward to see what's on your screen.
Make sure you are sitting on your sit bones. (These are the bony parts you feel when sitting on a firm surface.) By doing these few things you may greatly reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome and back injury.
If you are on your feet all day, make sure you are wearing comfortable flat shoes. Comfortable flat shoes take stress off your lower back, knees and feet. When standing, make sure all three tripod points of the foot are touching the ground. The tripod points are located on the bottom of your foot below the knuckle of your big toe, below the knuckle of your pinky toe, and at the center of your heel. By making sure to be on these points while standing, in conjunction with a slightly bent knee, you will be relieving stress throughout your legs, hips and back.
Some employers offer chair massage to their employees through employee benefit programs. Other offices get together and bring in massage therapist independently. With a 15-minute chair massage, you not only reduce fatigue and tension, but help prevent or relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, tension headaches and neck and back problems.
Last but not least, stretching is important for overall health. Stretching helps reduce muscle tension, increases range of movement, enhances muscle coordination, and increases circulation throughout the body.
Here are a few simple stretches you can do anywhere:
By doing these few stretches, your body will feel better and looser, and you will have a better overall health. That way, it will only be your boss that's a pain. And remember, keep hydrated by drinking lots of water.