A GUIDE TO ERGONOMICS

Sitting-Posture

Why do I have constant back pain? Why do I seem to sleep on my neck wrong every night? The answer to these common questions is simple – ergonomics. Ergonomics is the scientific study of how people interact with their activities and their environment with a purpose of improving health, preventing injuries, and increasing efficiency. When you take a closer look at ergonomics and your daily activities you will see that it’s easy to prevent irritating back and neck pain.At the OfficeBack pain is one of the most common work-related injuries and is often caused by ordinary office activities. Slouching in a chair, prolonged activity, repetitive motions, and fatigue result inincreased stress on the body and in musculoskeletal injuries. Simply modifying your body position, posture, and equipment placement will eliminate work-related back pain. First, center your body in front of your monitor and keyboard. If your chair doesn't offer lumbar support, place a cushion between the curve in your lower back and the back of the chair. Then, adjust the height of your chair so that your legs are at 90-degree angles with the floor and your arms are at 90-degree angles with your keyboard. Place your computer monitor directly in front of you so that the top of the screen is slightly below your eye level. Lastly, keep your key objects, such as the computer mouse, telephone, staple, etc., close to your body to prevent unnecessary stretching.At HomeWhen we finally have time to relax our tired bodies we are often injuring our muscles. After a long day, it is too easy to lay down on the couch to watch a television show or hop into bed with a book. However, when we do these things our body positions are straining our muscles. Slumping in a couch will put an unnatural strain on your spine. Remember to watch your posture and always place a pillow behind your lower back when you are feeling a lack of lumbar support. Also, positioning yourself directly in front of the television will eliminate the need to rotate your neck. When reading in bed, the most important thing to do is to elevate your reading materials so your shoulder, head, and neck are not forced forward. Investing in a bed-reading pillow will quickly relieve all your muscle pain.In BedConsidering that you spend six to ten hours in bed, it’s essential to find a sleeping position that prevents neck pain. Two simple ways to get rid of neck pain and improve your quality of sleep are the right pillow and the right sleeping position. Finding a pillow that keeps your neck in a neutral position, a position in which the slight curve of your neck is not changed, will surely benefit your body while sleeping. Moreover, if you are sleeping on your stomach, STOP! Stomach-sleeping arches your back and forces your head to turn into an unnatural position. To relieve tension in your spine and neck, try sleeping on your back or your side.Despite our greatest efforts to improve our daily ergonomics, neck and back pain may still persist. An effective way to combat these pains is through regular massage.Try Monthly Massage! Set up a massage appointment at Blooming Moon Spa, our highly trained massage therapists will begin your appointment with a brief evaluation to customize your massage to your body’s needs. After the evaluation you will be treated to a deep tissue, Swedish, Thai, or relax tense muscles with heat therapy before your massage. Massage will not only relax muscles, it also improves circulation, releases toxins and promotes harmony and balance. You will see an improvement in your sleep, attitude and in general provide a healthy resting place for you mind, body and spirit.Blooming Moon massage memberships start at $65 a month. Monthly massage will ensure you have the regular maintenance your body requires to combat the day-to-day strain.