Spring Break
Getting rid of the aches and pains
Katherine Whitehurst
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: News
|
Christy Lelovic has been a Health and Safety Specialist for 10 years, and, according to her, with a little help from ergonomics, protection from aches and pains are a possibility.
Ergonomics is the process of "looking at people and how they interact with their environment," said Lelovic, who has written three books on the subject, which are currently used as internal employee training texts for municipal governments in Ontario.
The improvements made to an individual's environment can create a more comfortable and safe working space that can reduce the chances of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Lelovic believes that many injuries can be prevented through improvement of one's posture and body mechanics through ergonomics.
But what does this mean to the student world?
"MSD takes so long to develop that people who have been students for much of their lives can suffer more than a person who does not spend a lot of time in front of a computer. The habits and damage that cause MSD begin as a student, and take many years to manifest and develop," said Lelovic. "Once you have a MSD you typically have to manage with it for the rest of your life. That's why students should be proactive to prevent MSD from developing."
Lelovic not only suggests that good ergonomics can help students' health in the future but she believes it can improve their studying too.
"When our bodies are not under strain for four hours of study in an ergonomic set up, not only will it be much better for our body but our mind as well," she said. "When your body is not under strain your mind can focus on studying, allowing you to think more clearly."
Because students do spend a lot of time at the computer and studying over books, "MSD is prevalent among students," said Lelovic. "Their prolonged computer use, mixed with the fact the average student has late nights and does not eat as nutritious as they should, is causing them to burn the candle at both ends. In this generation it is really important to make those positive changes that will help avert MSD in the long term."
"Although the changes made by implementing ergonomics seem so small that many people view them as insignificant, they can make a big change in one's life," said Brock Professor Gail Frost, from the department of Physical Education and Kinesiology. She also said that by rearranging your working space you can reach the goal of a neutral body position.
"The object is to avoid awkward postures," Frost said. "The further out of the neutral position you go the more likely you are to injuring yourself."
By organizing the equipment and materials on your desk based on the amount of use, adjusting your chair to a position that allows for your knees, hips and elbows to rest at approximately 90 degree angles and stopping to stretch after every hour of work, Frost suggests that students can greatly reduce their aches and pains.
Although ergonomics may seem like such a small change, by changing these posture habits now, students could save themselves from an otherwise painful future.
Be the first to comment on this story