By Christa Buchanan A long day at work can take a toll on the body, which is where ergonomics, the science of adapting working conditions to the needs of workers, comes into play. While most people would think those who do heavy lifting on a regular basis would experience more back problems than office workers, that’s not necessarily true, say local chiropractors: Chronic pain due to poor posture and repetitive motions often affects those who work in an office environment. “There’s no question — computers,” said Dr. Robert W. Levine of the Levine Clinic Chiropractic in Farmington Hills in regards to the biggest culprit of chronic pain that he treats. Sitting for long hours, twisting to reach the keyboard or phone, looking up or down at the computer monitor and slouching are just a few of the culprits that can cause chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, not to mention headaches, fatigue and general discomfort. “The most common causes of musculoskeletal injury in the workplace, including neck and low back pain, are poor seating, standing and lifting postures. This can be due to poor workstation setup, including desk arrangement, computer arrangement and non-adjustable seating,” said Dr. Aaron Lundgaard of Total Health Systems in Clinton Township. Many of these aches and pains can be alleviated by simply making the workspace more conducive to proper posture, starting with sitting properly. “Sitting is the biggest culprit of back pain that most people are not aware of. … One of the worst things is sitting wrong. When we sit, we lose posture, we slouch, the head goes forward — this throws off the biomechanics of the spine,” said Dr. Mary Wlodyga Frye of 1st Chiropractic Life in Warren, noting that sitting produces almost three times more pressure on the lower back than standing. “Sitting is more strenuous than standing. In other jobs people get taught how to lift properly— there are no instructions on how to sit,” said Frye. Establishing an ergonomically correct workspace can be accomplished by having the computer monitor, keyboard and telephone positioned directly in front of the chair, so no twisting, turning, or looking up or down are necessary while working; making sure the chair allows for adequate leg room; and most importantly, having an adjustable chair with good lumbar support. “If you were to look at all the chairs in your office, you would find that at least eight out of every 10 chairs lacks the necessary lumbar support. … The lumbar arch has really quite an accentuation … (and) most chairs don’t offer nearly enough support,” said Levine, adding that wearing unsupportive shoes, such as flip-flops, “greatly distorts the geometry of the foot,” which can cause spinal misalignment. Levine likened wearing ill-fitting shoes to putting the wrong tires on a car. “Everything is thrown off,” he said of the strain wearing “mushy shoes” puts on not only the foot, but also the alignment of the spine. Good posture not only helps keep the spine and nervous system healthy, said Frye, it also is essential to good health. “Time spent having poor posture affects the nervous system. It’s your lifeline, the most important part of your body. … Any interference in the nervous system can cause your body to become unhealthy,” said Frye. Levine and Lundgaard agree that a misaligned spine can cause a multitude of health problems — everything from poor digestion, degenerative disc disease and arthritis to headaches, and bladder and sinus problems, among other ailments. “Everything in the body is based on the central nervous system. When the nervous system is altered, pathology sets in. Almost every pathology is based on the central nervous system, which affects organic function,” said Levine, adding that prevention in the form of “ergonomics, flexibility and passive range of motion is key. Yoga, tai chi, martial arts — exercises that incorporate slow repetitive motions — are extremely beneficial” to maintaining healthy spinal posture. Lundgaard agrees that exercise, especially “core,” or abdominal, strengthening and stretching, is essential for maintaining healthy spinal posture. “The most important things we can do are avoidance and prevention … Prevention means addressing the environmental stressors and using proper seated, standing and lifting postures,” said Lundgaard. “Core strengthening and stretching exercises are the key. … Using exercises on the floor and on a Swiss ball to challenge your lower back and deep abdominal stabilizers can help. You should perform exercises to challenge and improve balance and all-over body awareness.” A number of ergonomic products on the market — neck and lumbar pillows, ergonomic chairs, wrist rests and shoes, and Memory Foam beds and pillows — can also help alleviate strain; however, Lundgaard suggests getting professional instruction on which products are best for each person’s unique situation. “Pillows, chairs and beds are all possible options … these products used without first analyzing a person’s situation would be guesswork,” said Lundgaard. For those experiencing chronic back, shoulder or neck pain, Frye, Levine and Lundgaard agreed that chiropractic adjustments to correct misalignments in the spine, establishing an ergonomically correct work environment, strengthening core muscles and increasing flexibility are key to maintaining a healthy spine — and overall body. For more information, visit www.1st chiropractic.net or www.totalhealthsystems.com. 1st Chiropractic can be reached at (586) 573-6622, Total Health Systems at (586) 228-0270 and Levine Clinic of Chiropractic at (248) 855-2666. You can reach Staff Writer Christa Buchanan at cbuchanan@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1061. |
