<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1635" src="http://northshorechiro.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/blog-Overview-Workplace-Ergonomics-sml.jpg" alt="overview: workplace ergonomics" width="405" height="225">
<h2>What is Ergonomics?</h2>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">The word “Ergonomicsâ€ was actually derived from two Greek words – <em>ergon</em>, meaning work, and <em>nomoi</em>, meaning natural laws. </span>
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<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">To put it simply, it is the study of the kind of work you do, the work environment you have, and the equipment you use to do your job. Its objective is to design your office workspace in a way that fits you and the job you are doing. Proper ergonomic design enhances your effectiveness and efficiency with work and other activities. It is very important to both health and safety as well, as it helps prevent postural tension and other physical injuries which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. </span>
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<h2>Poor Ergonomics and Health Risks</h2>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Though may sound easy, improving the Ergonomic design of your office or home is not that simple.  Oftentimes, it is done poorly which can put our bodies at risk. Have you experienced getting aches or pains when doing tasks or using tools in your home or office? Take back pain as an example. Back pain is worse at certain times of day or week, maybe after a long day of computer work or when you got a new chair. Though the pain might go away after switching positions, it still comes back after a couple of minutes or so. Scenarios like this may be the result of poor ergonomic design – meaning, your workspace might not be designed to fit you. </span>
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<p style="padding-left: 100px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #99cc00;">[expand title="Risk factors for trauma disorders"]</span></p>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Poor ergonomics can cause heavy damage that can affect the whole body, especially the arms, hands and back/ spine. Among the risk factors for trauma disorders of the arm and hand are:</span>
<ul>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Staying in the same position, whether sitting or standing, for long hours/ periods of time </span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Repetitive activities that making the same motion. The longer you repeat the same movement, the greater the risk.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Powerful, forced exertions, particularly with arms and hands. The combination of repetitive motion and force, such as pushing on a tool over and over, is a particular risk.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Awkward body postures, such as twisting your wrists to perform tasks.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Using hand tools that either don't fit the job or don't fit the hand.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Excessive power tool vibration.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Among the risk factors of back injury are:</span>
<ul>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Bending or Slouching the back.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Lifting from below the knees or above the shoulders, or worse, above the head.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Twisting at the waist, especially while lifting.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Lifting or moving objects that are too heavy.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Lying in an awkward position.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Sitting or standing for long periods of time, especially if you have poor posture.
</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Other risk factors involving other parts of the body:</span>
<ul>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">External compression and stress to the body</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Prolonged exposure to vibration</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Workplace temperature</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Ineffective lighting conditions</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Psychosocial factors</span></li>
</ul>
[/expand]
<p style="padding-left: 100px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #99cc00;">[expand title="Reducing Risks and Improving Ergonomic Design"]</span></p>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Jobs, tasks, or working environments combined with risk factors increase the risk for developing discomfort and other injuries. The level of risk depends on the time period, occurrence, and intensity, as well as the worker's genetic make-up and their physical condition. </span>
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<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Luckily, there can be ways to improve work safety in terms of ergonomics. You can either reduce the ergonomic risks or you can reduce the worker's exposure to the risks. Both can be done through redesigning, like adjusting workspace arrangement or replacing equipment to improve safety. These includes modifying heights and layouts of office chairs, desks, keyboard, computer screen, and other things that should be arranged correctly for efficient use. When a risk cannot be eliminated through the redesign process, other processes should be considered such as reducing or eliminating awkward postures, modifying the method of performing tasks or adjusting schedules and work routines. You may opt to have a professional evaluate your ergonomics which can be very effective at reducing risks and improving safety at home or workplace. It might not be that affordable but at least the payoff might be worth it.</span>
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<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">However, while it is good to invest in tools or equipment you need to improve your ergonomics, it is essential to put into account the most important thing in your workstation, which is yourself. Even without an ergonomist, you can actually help yourself create a workplace in which you can work productively and comfortably. Often, we brush off the symptoms that could help us identify physical problems at an early stage. Ignoring these is the worst possible thing to do. Since it is you who knows when you are experiencing pain and strain, you're also the one who's best able to determine what tasks, equipment, and positions cause those symptoms. By being alert with your senses, you can help yourself identify the causes of injury as well as the practical solutions for it.</span>[/expand]
<p style="padding-left: 100px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #99cc00;">[expand title="How do I know if my workstation is set up right?"]</span></p>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">Most probably you are working in good condition if:</span>
<ul>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">You feel comfortable with your position and with what you’re doing.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">You are less likely to have problems such as headaches or eyestrain.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">You have reduced neck and back pain.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">You have less or NO pain-related problems that are linked to doing repetitive tasks.</span></li>
 	<li><span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">You have less or NO pain-related problems that are linked to staying in the same position</span></li>
</ul>
[/expand]
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[caption id="attachment_2442" align="aligncenter" width="405"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2442" src="http://northshorechiro.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/blog-Overview-Workplace-Ergonomics_proper.png" alt="proper workplace ergonomics" width="405" height="255"> You can feel it if your workspace is just right for you.[/caption]

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<span style="color: #d1d1d1; text-align: justify;">As mentioned previously, you must always pay attention to how your body feels when you're working. Try to identify what causes pain, numbness or other symptoms. You will feel it if your workspace is correctly set for you.</span>
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<h5><span style="color: #d1d1d1;"><strong>Related Articles:</strong></span></h5>
<h5><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://northshorechiro.co.nz/posture-movements-and-ergonomics/"><span style="color: #99cc00; text-decoration: underline;">Posture, Movements and Ergonomics</span></a></span></h5>
<h5><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://northshorechiro.co.nz/take-action-now-prevent-pain-in-the-workplace/"><span style="color: #99cc00; text-decoration: underline;">Preventing Pains and Strains in the Workplace</span></a></span></h5>
<span style="color: #d1d1d1;">At North Shore Chiropractic, we provide a variety of comprehensive health programs to promote good health practices within your workplace. We have programs that contribute to improved health and injury risk as well as improved workplace overall performance and job satisfaction.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #d1d1d1;">For starters, we have an <span style="color: #99cc00;"><strong>Essential Power Seminar</strong></span> that we can conduct at your place of work, business, sports or social club. In this seminar, will teach you how to be more ergonomically aware – this includes correcting beds, pillows &amp; desk setup.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #d1d1d1;">To book, you can </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://northshorechiro.co.nz/contact-us/"><span style="color: #99cc00; text-decoration: underline;"> Contact us</span></a></span><span style="color: #d1d1d1;"> or visit our </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://northshorechiro.co.nz/seminars/"> <span style="color: #99cc00; text-decoration: underline;"> Seminars Page</span></a></span><strong>.</strong></p>
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