More and more jobs require working at a desk on a computer for long periods of time. When you work in a poorly designed workspace, your body suffers, particularly if you work on a computer. Often the negative effects don’t get felt immediately. That’s why Drs. Leo and Courtney Meltvedt at Chiropractic Life Center in Encinitas, California, work with you on ways you can avoid developing problems with your back, neck, shoulders, hands, and wrists.
Call (760) 783-0105 to make an appointment today, learn more about how ergonomics can help you feel better.
Ergonomics Q&A
Ergonomics is the scientific study of people at work, focusing on making jobs fit the physical needs of workers instead of having to force your body to adjust physically to your job. Tasks, workstations, tools, and equipment must be adapted to help eliminate potentially severe and disabling work-related disorders by reducing the physical stress placed on your body.
The science of ergonomics draws from a number of disciplines, including:
• Physiology
• Biomechanics
• Psychology
• Anthropometry
• Industrial hygiene
• Kinesiology
More specifically, the goal of ergonomics is to eliminate discomfort and risk of injury associated with the overuse of your muscles and tendons due to awkward posture and repetitive tasks. Ergonomics helps make it so that equipment fits both your physical capabilities and limitations.
Ergonomic stressors include:
• The force required to complete your job
• Awkward or static working postures needed to complete a task
• Repetitiveness of a task
Ergonomics is important not only for your health, but also because industries are increasingly implementing technological advances in ergonomics to remain competitive. Implementing ergonomics in your workspace allows you to:
Improves worker safety
Ergonomics lowers injury rates, leading to reduced absences as you are less likely to need to recover from muscle soreness, fatigue, and other injury-related issues.
Increases productivity
Ergonomics makes jobs easier and more comfortable to do by reducing the physical effort needed to complete tasks.
Improves morale
Implementing ergonomics reduces turnover because employees have jobs that fit their physical capacity.
Ergonomics isn’t just used in the workplace. There are several ways to include ergonomics at home, including:
Wobble seats
Regular chairs cause you to sit in unnatural, static positions that result in physical discomfort. Wobble seats provide both stability and flexibility, allowing for a wide range of movement at a large desk or work area. They also assist with neuromuscular re-education (NMR).
Denneroll
The doctors at Chiropractic Life Center show you how to use Denneroll products for optimal posture and spinal alignment.
Spinal molding fulcrums
Spinal molding fulcrums are foam padding that offers neck and back support.
Should you find yourself in pain due to poor ergonomic conditions, the doctors at Chiropractic Life Center can help retrain the spine and body to be a normal position and show you the proper way to do neck wall traction through the use of the Pettibon System, as well as with stabilization techniques and strengthening exercises.
If you have an injury, work-related or otherwise, Drs. Leo and Courtney Meltvedt use motion X-rays to diagnose and treat you appropriately. Call (760) 783-0105 to make an appointment today.