Ergonomics And Chiropractics
I’ve been hearing the term “ergonomics” for a while now, but it was honestly only very recently that I learned what exactly that term means, and how it relates to your overall health and wellness.
I found a great article by the American Chiropractic Association that really gets into the details of good ergonomics and what you can do to improve your comfort while working, both at work and in the home, as well as in the car during your commute. Here are some of the most helpful facts and tips that I took away from the highly informative article.
The definition of ergonomics is essentially involving the study of a person’s efficiency and comfort within their working environment, whether that be in an office,at a home study, or in a moving transportation vehicle.
Good ergonomics involves the practice of making changes and adjustments to the workplace environment in order to ensure and improve the comfort and efficacy of a person’s safety and productivity. This really makes a lot of sense when you take into consideration the many, many scientific studies (and common sense) that tell us how comfort in the workplace is conducive to a more effective and productive work environment for employees. Creating a workplace environment that has good ergonomics involves following the principles of a few basic steps.
First, if there is any heavy lifting that is required in the workplace, it is important that employees are taught which muscles to use, and which postures to be in for the least amount of strain or potential risk of injury. Second, a work environment should not contribute to or exacerbate muscle strain and fatigue. Any sort of work activity,standing or sitting, should encourage an employee to be able to comfortably shift positions and move relatively freely often, so that they are not stuck in one position for a prolonged period of time.
Muscle strains and other painful injuries in the workplace tend to most commonly occur when a person is performing repetitive tasks in the same position for a significant period of time, or if the same muscles are being used over and over again to the point of exhaustion and overuse. Finally, an employee mustnot over exert their muscles in any capacity. Too much over exertion will quickly lead to discomfort and potential injuries in the workplace. Ask your chiropractor how you can improve the ergonomics in your work environment for a healthier lifestyle.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Jeff Djevdet