Ergonomics Exercises Are Important

The term “ergonomics” is derived from two Greek words: “ergon”, meaning work and “nomoi”, meaning natural laws. Ergonomists study human capabilities in relationship to work demands. In recent years, ergonomists have attempted to define postures which minimize unnecessary static work and reduce the forces acting on the body. All of us could significantly reduce our risk of injury if we could adhere to the following ergonomic principles...

• All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but equally healthy and safe postures.
• Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available.
• Work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head, trunk and upper limbs.

Any attempt to improve workplace conditions can have only limited success if the importance of ergonomics is ignored. Ergonomics help people develop the subtle coordination of thought and physical action required to monitor and alter harmful patterns of posture and movement. This in turn reduces your risk of developing a repetitive strain injury. Ergonomic exercises or stretches (with the above image being an extreme, humorous and somewhat gross example of such) can be necessary. Also helpful are the use of ergonomically correct desks, chairs and other computer/office equipment to help reduce and/or eliminate pain and injury. Take this short quiz of 3 questions to see if you could benefit from ergonomic exercises.

• Do you suffer from Repetitive Strain Injury or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
• Do you have a backache or stiff neck and shoulders?
• Do you become uncomfortable when sitting at your computer for long periods of time?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then ergonomic exercises could be of great benefit to you! I've located a good website that gives step-by step illustrated exercises you can do right at your office and they only take a few minutes to complete. Best of all, you should start feeling the results immediately. So in the words of rapper Mase, go "breathe, stretch, shake, let it go"! Another solution, you could just buy some weed off the stoned intern and release your pain that way - joking of course. Now go try those exercises because your boss is calling for a surprise pee check this afternoon! :P