Ergonomics, Office Chairs and the Real Definition of Workplace Ergonomic Posture

!±8± Ergonomics, Office Chairs and the Real Definition of Workplace Ergonomic Posture

The dictionary definition of ergonomics or human factors is the application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environment for human use. When a manufacturer uses this process they take into account many factors which can affect the consumer. They use theory, data and principles in order to design a chair that limits all unnatural motions which will cause fatigue and pain. What kind of things do ergonomically designed task chairs take into account?

Some of the factors that help in the design process are taking into consideration are the type of fatigue that will be undertaken, how fast a person must be able to move for quick movements, demands on memory. Physical factors include Strength, size, and speed. Ergonomics can study specific work environments and chair types such as a task chair or executive chair and even stools. Many things in a persons work environment can affect comfort and productivity. The time it takes to do a task, the risk demands and the physical requirements can all be improved with the proper positioning.

Ergonomics includes more than just office chairs. There is a whole industry devoted to proper office ergonomics. After working in the ergonomic industry for a number of years, I started to realize that I am often asked, "What kinds of products are ergonomic?"

In the office environment you can buy ergonomic stools for doctors or factory workers, posture knee chairs for those who work on computers, swopper models to help increase the muscles that promote good posture, and pretty much every chair design comes in an ergonomic model.

But how do I know which are the ergonomic ones and which aren't? This part is easy. Because a lot of research and design go into the development of each ergonomic chair and often they have more parts they tend to cost a little more. Many are turned off by this but it is like buying a cheap mattress. Yes a 0 mattress can be slept on as easy as a 00 one but your back pays the extra 0 in pain if you buy the cheap mattress.

Ergonomics is such a growing market that most ergonomic chairs are just a fraction more than there non-ergo counterparts. The main way to know if a product is ergonomic is if it says so. Companies who have energy saver technology advertise it. Ergonomic products will say loud and proud that they are ergonomic. If a product doesn't openly advertise that it is ergonomic than either it was not designed to be sensitive to ergonomics or it is a cheap knockoff.

There are also many other ergonomic products designed to limit improper movement. By now most of you have seen those awkward looking keyboards and wondered why thy split the keys into two sections. The reason behind this change is ergonomics. By changing the angle that the keys are placed it allows your arms and wrists to use a more natural angle. The next time you type on a traditional keyboard notice how you have to bend your wrists outward to achieve a good angle.

Besides all of the health and wealth benefits of the new ergonomic products they tend to be a lot of fun. Often times they change the way you traditionally do a task. Learning a new way can be challenging but a fun process. Co-workers may laugh at your struggle but trust me after a few days of your new chair or keyboard. One by one they will come up and ask you where you purchased it and then in no time the entire office is ergonomic.

Most ergonomic chairs look different in some manner and this is also an eye catcher. So with all you new found coolness and comfort go out and enjoy a good walk after work because now you'll actually have the energy.

Ergonomics, Office Chairs and the Real Definition of Workplace Ergonomic Posture

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My Back Hurts, Ouch Ouch!

!±8± My Back Hurts, Ouch Ouch!

"Ouch. My back hurts. Or is it my shoulder. Well, it's sort of both, but it's in my neck, too. Ow...

I'll be right back. I have to go get an aspirin.

I hope the aspirin will help. It did yesterday, but I don't want to have to live on aspirin. My deadline is Tuesday morning...I have at least five more hours of work at the computer this evening. Ooooh. My back hurts. Do you think it's this chair?"

Does this sound all too familiar? Are you leaving the office every day with a crick in your neck, a pinch in your spine, numb fingers, or all three? The hours (and hours and hours) so many of us are spending in front of the computer are affecting every aspect of our bodies and well being. Eyes, muscles, nerves, joints, alignment, and brain function are being taxed to the max as we rack up sedentary work days, glued to chairs ill-equipped to protect us from major damage. And that damage, sometimes irreparable, is on its way if we don't heed the signs.

That spazzed-out back/shoulder/neck is the result of an unsupported spine, which becomes misaligned when exposed to hours of sitting in a poorly designed and constructed chair. When stress is added to the lack of alignment, and long-term repetition is added to that, we are looking at a recipe for disaster: pinched nerves, slipped discs, muscle spasms, and carpal tunnel syndrome are only the beginning.

Currently the field of Ergonomics is providing us with some ingenious contributions toward prevention. However, it should be noted that the science of Ergonomics is not new. One could argue that a common pot holder is an ergonomic design, as it allows the human to perform the task of removing a pie from the oven without dropping it, or burning the hands. A hammer with a weighted head and a comfortable, padded handle takes stress off the wrist. Also, ergonomic. Going back to the cave days, the rock that was carefully hollowed to allow the spine to curve into it was ergonomically conscious, as well.

My sister suffered agony from a recurring pinched nerve and stiff neck.

Spending endless workaholic hours at the computer taught her what her body would not, could not, tolerate.

Wake up call.

She did some research and learned that this is a very common syndrome of our times, affecting millions of people. After some investigation, she opted for relief and a return to the living: It's called "The Aeron Chair", from Herman Miller. This amazing chair is the miraculous marriage of ergonomic science and beautiful design. It looks like the coziest sports shoe ever, and sitting in it feels like body-suspension. It has a special back support and engineered angles to align the body for blissful comfort and correct posture during marathon work hours. Once I sat in it I couldn't believe I was making do with my old desk chair.

A colleague of mine has taken a leave of absence to undergo two surgeries to correct pinched nerves. I'm not sure what caused hers, but her departure was, for me, Wake up Call Number Two.

My new ergonomic desk chair will arrive in ten days, along with a "Swopper", an ergonomic stool which allows the user to access continuous motion while working at a table or drawing board. Perfect.

They say prevention is worth a pound of cure.

No more agony, no more exclamations of pain, no more "My back hurts". Don't suffer needlessly. Don't subject your body to potential permanent damage when all that's required is that you get out of your chair every 50 minutes, walk around the office, do some inconspicuous stretching exercises, and invest in a decent ergonomically designed chair.

-Karen S

My Back Hurts, Ouch Ouch!

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