Reducing Pain At Work With Ergonomics
Ergonomics Brings Pain Relief
Does your back hurt all the time and you don’t know why? You don’t lift heavy items and you sleep well on your nice mattress. What can you do about your pain? The good news is, there are solutions to your back pain and they might even be simple. The bad news is, it’s quite possible that your pain is happening because of your job. If you’re willing to make a few small changes, you can feel better right away and do more for your back long term. Your pain is wrapped up in one simple word—ergonomics. Get relief by changing your habits in the following ways.
Practice Good Posture
It might not be comfortable to “sit up straight,” but it sure will reduce your back pain. When you’re at your desk, sit with your feet flat on the floor and keep your back against the chair. If you don’t have a good chair, look into one with correct ergonomics and adjustments to suit your curves. Your head and neck should be in a neutral position with your ears above your shoulders at all times. It might take time to get used to the position so stop what you are doing every half an hour or so and make adjustments.
Adjust Monitor And Keyboard Levels
Your computer monitor should be right in front of you with the screen level with your nose. If it’s too low, you will look down and throw off your ergonomics, which can cause you back pain. Something as small as a monitor adjustment can make a big difference. You will want your keyboard high enough, so your elbows have a 90-degree angle when you are typing. You don’t want to have to extend yourself or slump down to touch the keys. Place the mouse on the same level as well
Stand Frequently
While office chairs can seem comfortable, they can also be tiring. The longer you sit, the harder it is to hold good ergonomics. Stand every hour and move around a little bit. Standing desks are popular today, but if you don’t have one, just take a walk or move around before you position yourself back in the right ergonomic manner.
Limit Phone Screen Time
When you are looking at your phone, you’re likely looking down, which gives you a curved over position. Doing that for any length of time can cause pain in your back, which gets exacerbated at work. Answer your emails at the computer whenever you can and limit the time you look down at that phone.
Get Further Ergonomics Advice
If you’ve tried some of these things and still aren’t sure what you’re doing wrong, E3 Consulting can assess the ergonomics throughout your company and give you advice as to how you can make positive changes for the entire business. Ergonomics is important to helping employees lack pain and increase productivity. It’s amazing how much more people can and will do if they’re not in pain from poor ergonomics.
