Ergonomics:
Ergonomics is the study of how your body interacts with your environment when you perform a task or activity. Often this involves arranging your environment (your equipment, lighting, and how you perform a task) to minimize strain and maximize your efficiency and productivity. With improved ergonomics and an understanding of ideal posture, you may be less likely to have problems such as headaches or eyestrain. You may possibly reduce neck and back pain, and you may prevent conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that can be related to repetitive activities. In one study, over half of employees who used computers for at least fifteen (15) hours a week reported musculoskeletal problems in the first year of a new job.2Office and Workplace Injuries:
Falls, repetitive movements, awkward postures, reaching, bending over, lifting heavy objects, applying pressure or force, or working with vibrating tools constitute many of the common injuries that occur at work. All of these problems create physical stress to the tissues of your body (muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, spinal discs, bones and joints) and can lead to chronic pain if not addressed.
To prevent work-related injuries, it is important to position the work so that you can sit comfortably and minimize stress on any specific area of your body, vary your positions and tasks, and match tools to your size and preferences. It is also important to apply the same ideas about positioning your work and your body to activities you do at home or at play.
How to Lessen the Strain of Repetitive Injuries:
While falls and traumatic injuries do sometimes occur at work, the vast majority of work related injuries are due to repetitive strain or repetitive movements. Understanding how to decrease the effects of repetitive strain is explained in The Law of Repetitive Motion. Tissue injury occurs based on four (4) key factors: the Number of Repetitions, the Amplitude of the movement, the Force used and the amount of Relaxation time provided to the tissues. Vary these factors, and you will succeed in decreasing tissue strain.
