Florida Times-Union
The jokes about work being a pain and making you sick are as abundant as the leftover Halloween candy in your pantry.
But for millions of people who consider themselves lucky enough to still be employed these days, the rigors of a demanding job day in, day out can be the precursor to increased muscle aches, pains and strains. And it's anything but a joke.
Whether you work at a desk in front of a computer, stock shelves or ring up items on a register, you may be susceptible to work-related injuries that run the gamut from a stiff neck to nerve damage just from doing your job every day.
Repetitive motion injuries or work-related musculoskeletal disorders are caused by the frequent use of muscles, tendons, nerves and other joints either by maintaining a single position or concentrating on the same task for long periods of time. Over time the pain and injuries can lead to long-term disability.
"Repetitive motion injuries can result from long periods at the computer," said occupational health physician Joseph Czerkawski, medical director of Baptist Occupational Health Southside. "Tendinopathy is the overuse or a repetitive motion type pain of the hand, wrist and forearm. Neck and shoulder problems can occur as well."
One of the best ways to reduce or eliminate workplace injuries, according to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is to make your office work for you. It's the science of molding yourself to your working environment, popularly known as ergonomics.
In 2002, then-Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, unveiled a comprehensive approach to ergonomics designed to address musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. The four-pronged strategy addresses industry and task-specific guidelines, outreach, enforcement, and research. Since launching the strategy, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports significant progress in reducing ergonomic injuries.
Creating healthful environments not only means less occupational injury and illness, but more productivity as well. A 2008 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index report found workers' compensation costs for workplace injuries and illnesses in 2006, were $48.6 billion, with overexertion, slips and falls being the top culprits.
How your office is designed, and how you complete your work, may contribute to work-related injuries. Most offices and cubicles include a computer and a telephone and possibly commercial cabinets. But if they are not used properly or are not ergonomic friendly, it can cost you.
"There is no question that an ergonomic evaluation and proper position at a workstation, along with proper ergonomic equipment is well worth the investment," said Czerkawski. "Companies realize that this is the one area that the return on investment is worth a lot less lost days [from work] for employees."
Wayne Beck, manager of Baptist Executive Health's Baptist@Work Program agreed with Czerkawski. He said making small changes can show big results.
"There is phone-specific ergonomics equipment that an employer may purchase that can drastically reduce shoulder/neck injuries," said Beck. "For example, replacing a regular hand-held phone receiver with a head-set will eliminate awkward body positioning for those who utilize a phone for long periods of time. This, along with proper workstation ergonomics and taking mini breaks from repetitive work tasks, helps to reduce your exposure to work-related injuries. Whether you're someone who sits at a computer and types all day long or you perform assembly line-type tasks, you can reduce your risk for repetitive motion injury, simply by stretching out your at-risk body parts once every hour."
Some of the most common workplace injuries experienced by employees include carpel tunnel syndrome, back and neck pain from long-term static posture, visual fatigue or blurred vision, headaches and nerve and joint pain.
"Positioning your computer monitor to your eye level and using a wrist pad at the bottom of your keyboard to help keep the wrist in a neutral position are just two examples of how ergonomics can be implemented in a workstation," Czerkawski said. "Also, a footrest to support your feet will help reduce pressure on the lower back."
Beck said maintaining a healthful lifestyle not only makes good sense for overall health but can help if you are injured. He recommends a healthful diet along with 30 to 45 minutes of daily exercise. That way, your body will be better trained to properly and quickly recover from the injury.
"Take advantage of resources available to you at work, and have your ergonomic lift tables or workstation assessed to meet the ergonomics guidelines, " said Beck. "If you start to feel minor aches and pains, that's your body's way of warning you that injury is on the way."
But for millions of people who consider themselves lucky enough to still be employed these days, the rigors of a demanding job day in, day out can be the precursor to increased muscle aches, pains and strains. And it's anything but a joke.
Whether you work at a desk in front of a computer, stock shelves or ring up items on a register, you may be susceptible to work-related injuries that run the gamut from a stiff neck to nerve damage just from doing your job every day.
Repetitive motion injuries or work-related musculoskeletal disorders are caused by the frequent use of muscles, tendons, nerves and other joints either by maintaining a single position or concentrating on the same task for long periods of time. Over time the pain and injuries can lead to long-term disability.
"Repetitive motion injuries can result from long periods at the computer," said occupational health physician Joseph Czerkawski, medical director of Baptist Occupational Health Southside. "Tendinopathy is the overuse or a repetitive motion type pain of the hand, wrist and forearm. Neck and shoulder problems can occur as well."
One of the best ways to reduce or eliminate workplace injuries, according to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is to make your office work for you. It's the science of molding yourself to your working environment, popularly known as ergonomics.
In 2002, then-Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, unveiled a comprehensive approach to ergonomics designed to address musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. The four-pronged strategy addresses industry and task-specific guidelines, outreach, enforcement, and research. Since launching the strategy, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports significant progress in reducing ergonomic injuries.
Creating healthful environments not only means less occupational injury and illness, but more productivity as well. A 2008 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index report found workers' compensation costs for workplace injuries and illnesses in 2006, were $48.6 billion, with overexertion, slips and falls being the top culprits.
How your office is designed, and how you complete your work, may contribute to work-related injuries. Most offices and cubicles include a computer and a telephone and possibly commercial cabinets. But if they are not used properly or are not ergonomic friendly, it can cost you.
"There is no question that an ergonomic evaluation and proper position at a workstation, along with proper ergonomic equipment is well worth the investment," said Czerkawski. "Companies realize that this is the one area that the return on investment is worth a lot less lost days [from work] for employees."
Wayne Beck, manager of Baptist Executive Health's Baptist@Work Program agreed with Czerkawski. He said making small changes can show big results.
"There is phone-specific ergonomics equipment that an employer may purchase that can drastically reduce shoulder/neck injuries," said Beck. "For example, replacing a regular hand-held phone receiver with a head-set will eliminate awkward body positioning for those who utilize a phone for long periods of time. This, along with proper workstation ergonomics and taking mini breaks from repetitive work tasks, helps to reduce your exposure to work-related injuries. Whether you're someone who sits at a computer and types all day long or you perform assembly line-type tasks, you can reduce your risk for repetitive motion injury, simply by stretching out your at-risk body parts once every hour."
Some of the most common workplace injuries experienced by employees include carpel tunnel syndrome, back and neck pain from long-term static posture, visual fatigue or blurred vision, headaches and nerve and joint pain.
"Positioning your computer monitor to your eye level and using a wrist pad at the bottom of your keyboard to help keep the wrist in a neutral position are just two examples of how ergonomics can be implemented in a workstation," Czerkawski said. "Also, a footrest to support your feet will help reduce pressure on the lower back."
Beck said maintaining a healthful lifestyle not only makes good sense for overall health but can help if you are injured. He recommends a healthful diet along with 30 to 45 minutes of daily exercise. That way, your body will be better trained to properly and quickly recover from the injury.
"Take advantage of resources available to you at work, and have your ergonomic lift tables or workstation assessed to meet the ergonomics guidelines, " said Beck. "If you start to feel minor aches and pains, that's your body's way of warning you that injury is on the way."
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