Preventing ergonomic pain

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Your ergonomics are best described by the kind of work you do, the environment you work in, and the tools you use to do your job.  That may have changed significantly for you in recent times, so it’s vital you get it right from the start, and don’t wait until you’ve already got an issue before doing something about it.

Getting the correct ergonomic setup means getting your workspace to fit you and the job you are doing. There are a heap of benefits to insuring your ergonomics are properly set up, including:

• Reduced headaches or eyestrain.
• Reduced neck and back pain.
• Preventing issues such as bursitis or tendon problems, which are linked to doing the same task over and over (repetitive tasks).

Why should your work area be ergonomic?

When injury or illness occur at work, it doesn’t just affect you at work, it impacts all areas of your life!

Most on-the-job injuries are caused by:

• Falls.
• Repetitive movements and build-up of load on your body.
• The way you sit or stand (posture).
• Bending over, lifting heavy objects, or using pressure or force.
• Working with vibrating tools.

A correct ergonomic set up can help you be more comfortable at work. It can also help lower stress and injury caused by awkward positions and repetitive tasks. Some key things to consider include:

• Your workstation setup
• How you sit, and how long you stay in one position
• How you do a certain task
• The kinds of movements you make, and whether you make the same movements over and over
• Your work area, including light, noise, and temperature
• The tools you use to do your job and whether they are set up to fit your needs.

Injuries we can prevent

Most injuries that happen at work are caused by physical stress and strain, such as sitting in the same position for a long-time, making repetitive movements, and overuse. These injuries can cause stress and strain on your muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, blood vessels, and spine, causing pain in areas such as the back, hand, wrist, or arms, neck, and shoulders.

You could also be at risk for problems such as tendinopathy and bursitis. These are caused by overuse and repetitive movements. Over time, these kinds of movements can have a significant negative impact on your overall health and quality of life. You may be at greater risk for injuries at work if you have other health problems, such as arthritis or emotional stress.

Book in to talk to your Healthy Business health and wellbeing coach to insure your ergonomic set up is the best that it can be.

Most importantly, get up and move every 10 to 15 minutes, even if it’s just a 5 second stretch. Even the best ergonomics can’t replace your bodies natural need to move.