As physical therapists, we are always interested in helping people to keep their bodies healthy no matter what they are doing. You improve your chances of staying strong and healthy as long as you get enough exercise, never stay in one position for too long, and avoid overworking your body. Of course, at Cawley Physical Therapy, we understand that anything is possible at any time. Falls, car accidents, and even sitting for long periods every day can all damage your body, pinching nerves or straining muscles.
It is this last point we want to focus on here. Often, when providing physical therapy in Avoca, PA, we see patients who come in with sore backs and necks because their workstations are not ergonomic, and they have strained their bodies as a result.
That’s why we want to discuss home ergonomics here, specifically how you can make your workstation ergonomic if you are currently working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Is Ergonomics?
You may have heard it said that your workstation, whether it is in your home or at the office, must be ergonomic. Office chairs are often sold with the word “ergonomic” proudly displayed. So, what is ergonomics?
It seems “ergonomic” is frequently thought of as an adjective meaning something like “good for your body.” The actual definition of “ergonomics” is that it is the study of how human beings interact with their surroundings within a certain system to be as efficient as possible at completing tasks.
Workplace ergonomics is what we are discussing here. To allow workers to be as efficient as they can be in their work settings, one must consider the ergonomics of the space. Doing this requires getting granular about the surroundings. It is worth putting in this time and effort. A lack of ergonomic factors at your home workstation could leave you needing Scranton physical therapy.
Look at your home workstation. Where do you sit? Where does your computer sit in relation to you? Do you strain any part of your body to work at that computer? Does working in this manner hurt your neck, back, shoulders, torso, or legs? Furthermore, even if you are comfortable at your workstation, are you getting up and moving around during the day?
Any issues with your workstation should be corrected as soon as possible. That’s because long-term bad workstation ergonomics can eventually cause nerves to get pinched and muscles to get strained and sore. You may even end up needing physical therapy in Mountain Top, PA.
How to Make Your Workstation More Ergonomic
The question here then becomes how to make your workstation more ergonomic. You first must use a chair that supports every part of your body that touches it. It should hold up every part of your spine and have armrests to support your arms fully. While sitting, be sure to rest your feet flat on the floor, with your thighs parallel to the floor. Also, before starting work for the day, make sure you have everything you need near you to avoid reaching and straining your body. This is an important point. One bad move and you could end up in Jessup physical therapy.
Some final points on workstation ergonomics: when using your computer, keep your hands at the level of your elbows with your wrists straight to reduce straining the muscles of your hands and arms. The top of your computer screen should be at eye level so you can avoid straining your neck by looking down or up all day. If your computer is not at eye level, try placing some books under the monitor to raise it.
Physical Therapy in Northeast PA
If ergonomics is all about workplace efficiency, then implementing the changes we have suggested should go a long way toward making your body feel better as you work at home.
However, if something just doesn’t feel right, call Cawley Physical Therapy to make an appointment for physical therapy in Luzerne County or the surrounding areas. We are physically closed during this pandemic, but we are currently offering telemedicine services to eligible patients.
Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
