Back pain is the main cause of stress to our skeletal body, which is largely due to using poor mechanics in the human body. Our bodies are designed to actively move and be continually used with correct movements, which we spontaneously learn through our childhood development. What we have not learned is how to keep our bodies safe in movement for preventing injuries.
Ergonomics is the term used to describe the relationship between the human, the equipment being used by the human within the environment that the equipment is situated. This is relationship is key for understanding how incorrect or repetitive movements lead to back pain.
Originally Ergonomics was used entirely in the work place environment, for preventing injuries on work-sites. Since advent of computer technology; the term Ergonomics is related to all environments where computer workstations are commonly situated, which is the office that could also be in the home. Ergonomics therefore maintains the correct relationship between each part of the triangle for comfort and safety.
It is an Occupational Therapist who will assess the causes of back pain, which interferes in the relationship of the ergonomic triangle and provides solutions for easing the pain to continue the ergonomic relationship. These solutions may only provide temporary relief for easing back pain, until the tributary causes of the back pain are revealed.
Ergonomics along with Health Promotion are the terms used to promote positive health characteristics in daily living. Both skills develop with further education and experience in the clinical expertise of Occupational Therapy, seeking out the root causes of pathological symptoms and promoting protective solutions for the prevention of ongoing injuries.
Both approaches are curative, because they eliminate the abnormal movements that irritate back pain. Ergonomics will help create the normal movements, while Health Promotion protects the safe performance enabling an active prescription for daily living.
Directives in abnormal movements and corrective postural positioning can only be valid through skilled practitioners trained in Ergonomics with a medical background, such as Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy that understand abnormal pathology in abnormal repetitive movements.
Solutions used to alleviate back pain are correct positioning in ergonomic chairs, because the chairs create the supportive relationship between the human and the chair for comfort when sitting. There are a variety of ergonomic chairs to be used for different purposes. They can suit all sizes of individuals, according to their differing needs and movements required.
Ergonomic chairs alone will not alleviate back pain just by just 'sitting' in an ergonomic chair. The spine needs to be supported in the correct position, so that it remains relaxed for therapeutic movements to massage the spine and stimulate corrective postural movements for a comfortable and therapeutic sitting position.
The author - Gail McGonigal is qualified Occupational Therapist with an M.Sc in Health Promotion. Gail understands skeletal pain and functional discomforts, because she has postural scoliosis in her spine and is back to living actively and comfortable again. http://www.activelivingsolutions.net
Chair with Sliding Back Support Gail wants to show you how to overcome back pain and be comfortable in active living again. She can rehabilitate your back problems causing immobility and weight gain, through her "Therapeutic Active Living Plan" which is free if you purchase one of her ergonomic chairs.
No comments:
Post a Comment