Is ergonomics the answer?

[Ticallion Stallion]

Hiya,

Interested to hear views...

Most of my clients are office workers and so I get a lot of RSI cases. I have found that in almost all cases, the person was using a desktop computer (not laptop) on an ergonomically designed workstation. I am yet to find a freelance client who uses a laptop to present with RSI. This was initially surprising because I assumed that laptops were worse for you (remember I'm not talking about neck pain etc, just RSI). I put this down to one simple fact. That the laptop users (who generally work from home) are constantly changing their position - kitchen table, on the sofa, lying in bed - when working. This changes the angle of the keyboard regularly, meaning that they are using their flexors and extensors slightly differently each time. Whilst the desktop users get their workstation assessment from the ergonomics expert and remain frozen in that position until their next assessment a year later.

I can't help feeling that the obsession with perfect workstation ergonomics is actually increasing the problem by forcing people to freeze their positions for months at a time (and thereby forcing them to repetitively use their forearm muscles in exactly the same way/angle/plane) and that maybe there should be a focus on getting people to change their positions regularly. Or is there?

This is just an observation, so ergonomics experts out there, be gentle.

Regards

Henry

 

[Mercury]

Hi Happyfingers
you hit the nail on the head exactly when you say that our poor work force is perched in one position for far to long leading to the kinds of problems you are treating (all to often its the hardest workingpeople that suffer most).
Most of the functions of laptops can be used with the wrists/base of the handsresting on the keyboard itself as most of the keys are in easy reach, this is vital as the arms do not need to be elevated/airbourne as they float over the keys ala desk top = causing overuse at the shoulder. Laptop users have more neck problems due to inappropiate screen heightyou cant separate keyboard and screen to be arranged to suit the user.

No matter how good the ergonomics(for ergonomics read constraints) the constantdemands/strain placed on the muscleswill causethe fatigue/weakness/toxic syndrom that leads to fibrosis, triggerpoints, poor posture ect ect.

I had hopedfor acomplete designrethink that designs awork station around a human being rather than how we perch a person for hour after hour at their desk.
There areheight adjustable desks that allow people to stand and work (£2,000)which sounds great and does help butagain ties you to the desk. Designershave designed mainlyfor the functions of theoffice not the functions/needs of the worker.

Regards Steve

PS dont forget to send Bill Gates a christmas card !

 

[Yamilea?]

you are correct, latest research has shown that ergonomically designed workstations are indeed creating lots of problems. We deal with so many clients who work in this environment, and are giving them the research to take to their employers. I will do my hardest to put a link on here to it, when I return to work.....however maybe a nudge by PM will help as it will be in the new year.

 

[Younwaldri]

i work in an office and we do our workstation ergonomics yearly. we sit correctly throughout the hour whilst doing the on screen process. then as soon as its off we sit very differently, but still not moving around as much as we should.

Now i am just a trainee massage therapist but once people in the office hear you are training you get called upon every day and told of where they are stiff/sore. i didnt realise how awful it was. Out of a section of 30 people i have doen head/neck/shoulder/lower/upper back work on about 20 of them.
Compared to other people i have worked on who have not been office workers i have had nowhere near this number of complaints in so many areas. And in not just a little tension but really really stiff hard muscles ( im still learning the proper lingo)

Now the most worrying factor is in my office ( i work for HMRC , (inland revenue to us all) we have adopted the wonderful work practice that is LEAN!!

This means all processes that are deemed non productive/time wasting are removed. For example, if i needed to get a file/papers from our range, i would previously have walked along to the file store and collected it. No longer, i shout on my assistant who goes and gets it for me.
example- we used to collect printouts/letter from the printer that sat at the end of the room as we where working. under LEAN our assistants get them for us.

The aim is basically to have us sitting at out desk spending more time working on the computer than doing other tasks. so less and less time is spent moving around taking breaks away from the screen/desk. Timed targets are also added and we have noticed a massive increase in general tension/stress which ultimatly will increas the muscular problems. This i feel is going to lead to further problems along with the workstation ergonomics in general.

Unfortuatly LEAN is the new big thing to hit the office based industry. It was originally produced for production line companies such as toyota (who actually have machines doing the work so not so much need for massage there then).

lean is already in various banks and financial sectors who may be operating the system differently. But with HMRC employing tens of thousands of staff all adopting this work practice then it is very worrying.

 

[AbukexM]

Hi massaj
thanks for the update on LEAN as I was not aware of it. It really does sound like you are being veiwed as robots to be kept in place.

As a way of enabling my clients to keep moving Iencouragethem to have a large sizebottled water on their deskto continually sip from, then as nature takes its course visit the toilets on another floor.

I can only hope LEANwill belegally challeged as a working practiceand the employer liable to be sued for inhumain practice.
regards steve

 

[Lin Presti]

im quite shocked at that! Health & Safety legislation is so strict that the minute its proven that sitting for long periods caused problems, there will be court action galore, but as its the government its us that end up paying anyway so they arent really bothered!