For those not in the know, Ergonomics is the study of people in their workplace and making sure that all products and systems are designed or arranged to fit each individual in the workplace. The main goal of ergonomics is aiming to improve workspaces and environments to reduce the risk of injury. These days, it is harder to employ good ergonomics practices because so many employees working from home are required to provide their own furniture when setting up a home office and are more likely to make poor choices in terms of chairs and desks because they lack experience.
The importance of home office ergonomics can often go unnoticed until employees start experiencing headaches, neck pain, back pain or shoulder pain. Ergonomically designed workplaces lead to greater productivity, wellness, comfort, and reduce the likelihood of sustaining injury. If you are working from home and struggling with selecting the correct office furniture or with poor posture, a physio in Bayswater like Freedom Sports Medicine may be able to help.
What is ergonomics
At its core, ergonomics is a science based discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and their workspace in order to optimise their well-being and performance. It brings together knowledge from anatomy and physiology, psychology, engineering and statistics and ensures that the designs complement the strengths and abilities of people who use it. In short, it is essentially about “fitting work to people“. It is the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they most benefit the person using them. Not only does it improve the health of those working, but a more comfortable workplace also positively affects the work that gets done and the general mood of employees.
Why is Ergonomics important?
When the body has stress put on it by awkward posture, extreme temperature, or repeated movement, the musculoskeletal system can be affected. Ergonomics in tandem with physiotherapy play a major role in minimising the stress put on the body at work, therefore working to prevent injuries or afflictions such as:
- Poor Posture
- Back Pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Tension in the hands & arms.
- Leg cramps
- Tight muscles and joints
In order to create safe, comfortable and productive workspaces, ergonomic study is designed to create a workspace, which keeps in mind the individual’s body size, strength, skill, speed, sensory abilities and attitudes to make sure all employees are comfortable and productive.
What is an Ergonomic Assessment?
An ergonomic assessment is an assessment of a person’s working environment, ensuring it is fit for use. These assessments are done by qualified professionals , physiotherapists are an ideal choice to conduct Ergonomic assessments as they have the knowledge of the biomechanical functions of the body and the effect different stresses can have on it.
In a standard office environment, physiotherapists like those at Freedom Sports Medicine will assess the furniture used in the office and advise on how it could be improved to improve the health of employees. Generally, the assessment includes examinations of:
- Desk areas
- Chairs are adjustable and appropriate for the user.
- Workstation adjustability.
- Analysis of working duties e.g. bending, lifting, repetitive movements, etc.
- Assessment of the tools provided for the job and the appropriateness
- Staff postures
How a physiotherapist can help when working from home
With so many employees moving to working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, there has been less of a focus put on ergonomics. A lot of this is simply due to the fact that employees are now buying their own furniture, and there is no way for managers to keep an eye on the health of their employees.
Buying the correct furniture for your needs, and improving your posture are good steps towards prioritising your own health while working from home. If you are unsure about what exactly your body needs, meeting with a physio in Bayswater can be a great first step. They will be able to assess your range of movement, examine any aches and pains, and at the end of your meeting, recommend what parts of your body need the most support.
With these recommendations, you can make sure to purchase furniture that benefits you, and work on improving your posture in your daily life. When working home alone, it can be hard to remember that you need to prioritise your own musculature health, but a trained physiotherapist can give you the reminder you need.
So if you are working from home and concerned about your ergonomic setup, stop searching for a ‘physiotherapist near me’ and get in contact with the friendly team at Freedom Sports Medicine to get advice on how you can better take care of yourself while working. It’s time to start putting yourself first.
