Ergonomics Directly Affects a Healthy Spine

Oct. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- Four out of five adults will experience severe back pain at some point in their lives. This pain can last from a few days to several years. Common diagnoses include bulging disc, herniated disc, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome and spinal arthritis. While the diagnoses are understood, often patients who come to Back Clinics of Canada with low back pain are unable to specify exactly what injury or event caused their pain.

That’s because back pain does not have to be caused by a specific injury such as a fall or car accident. Repetitive stress or strain on the body, or improper lifting or moving heavy objects, is often the cause. Back pain can actually develop slowly, over time, from daily workplace activity and even household chores and activities.

The spine is masterfully designed to carry us, help us to move, flex and bend. It can withstand pressure in the form of twisting and lifting. A strong back is essential to healthy living.

But the spine can withstand only so much. If strain and pressure on the spine is excessive or occurs repeatedly over a long period of time, the soft tissues of the spine can begin to wear and break down.

By understanding how we interact with our workspaces, how we move, and how we can function most efficiently, then we can learn to perform activities in a way that reduces stress and strain that can cause slow damage to our back.

ERGONOMICS
Ergonomics is concerned with the relationship between a person and his/her workplace. It’s the study of how a person interacts with his/her equipment, how tasks are performed; it even looks at the fit and design of office furniture. All these directly impact health and productivity.

If a person is engaged with repetitive tasks or has a very physical job, their relationship to their workspace needs to be understood and evaluated. A professional can do this and make recommendations to alleviate stress and injury. An ergonomist will look at how employees move and identify ways the individuals can work most productively and efficiently, and safely. (Think of an assembly line worker who performs the same task repeatedly in the course of a workday, or a courier who delivers heavy packages all day.) Employers of such personnel will wisely invest in an ergonomic study, because they want their workers to be efficient and productive, but of course they don’t want anyone to suffer injury.

Even office furniture plays a key role in back health. A desk chair should be evaluated to see if it is supporting the lower back properly. The desk should be at the right level so as not to strain the arms, shoulders or neck. The computer monitor should be at the proper height so as not to strain one’s neck or eyes. Many folks who work at a desk all day and improperly fit their furniture can suffer terribly with strain, aches, exhaustion and pain. Imagine slouching and straining for 8 hours a day. This can definitely affect your health, even if you aren’t doing anything more strenuous than typing on a keyboard.

Office furniture should be well-designed and adjustable so that it can be adjusted to create the ideal individualized workspace.

Relieve Back Pain With Simple Ergonomic Adjustments
There are several simple things you can do to minimize stress and strain on your back.
-   your chair, the one you sit on for most of the day if you have a desk job, should have a seat back that inclines backwards (90 to 120 degrees), and the backrest must offer lumbar support
-   the chair should have adjustable armrests
-   the height of the chair should be such that your knees are bent 90 degrees with your feet flat on the floor
-   if you type a lot, the angle of your elbow should be 90 degrees when your fingers rest on the keyboard with straight wrists. Consider getting a desk with an adjustable keyboard tray to accommodate different users
-   looking at a computer monitor? The distance from your eyes should be 18-24 inches, and the monitor height should be about chin level
-   If your work involves lifting or moving objects, remember to always bend at the knees, not at the waist, and lift your object up smoothly, close to your body.
-   When moving a heavy object, pivot your body on one foot rather than twisting your spine in order to move it.
-   Always have someone help you move heavy objects in order to reduce back strain.

These ideas are easy to integrate into your workspace and daily activities. Even small adjustments can make a significant positive difference for your spine. Ask Dr. Nusbaum, director of Back Clinics of Canada, about ergonomics and how you can improve your daily tasks and processes. Not only will you ease pressure on your back, reduce strain and correct imbalances, you may even find your energy and productivity get a boost!

You deserve a pain free life!

# # #

Our Toronto back clinic offers non-surgical spinal decompression. This highly successful treatment heals at the source of pain -- the damaged spinal disc. It's non-invasive, non-surgical, and requires no drugs or medication. Qualified patients are finding success even when other conventional treatments have failed, including failed surgery. Conditions treated include bulging and herniated discs, sciatica, stenosis, facet syndrome, degenerative disc disease and spinal arthritis. Dr. Ron Nusbaum, director, has been healing patients from severe low back pain and neck pain for more than 20 years.