The Importance of Office Ergonomics

More and more people are spending the majority of their day sitting in front of computers for work. What may be surprising for some, is that sitting for extensive amounts of time can increase your risk of musculoskeletal disorders. 

Fortunately, there are simple ways that you can limit your risk of developing any discomfort in the workplace. 

Setting up your workstation in an ergonomically appropriate position comes with plenty of benefits, including;

• Ideal neck and lower back posture are maintained throughout the day. This can decrease the risk of headaches, neck pain and low back pain. 

• Proper positioning of the upper limbs and hands enable you to decrease the chance of developing a repetitive strain or overuse injury.

• Correct support and positioning of the lower limbs ensures that excessive strain is not placed through the hips. 

While setting up your work space has many benefits on its own, being sedentary for long periods of time can still negatively impact your health. So, no matter how well your desk is set up, it is still extremely important to take regular positional breaks throughout the day. Whether this means getting up to do some stretches, get a drink of water or scan some documents in the print room, any movement is good movement. Changes in positioning allow you to get the blood flowing to different parts of the body and keep your muscles working well. 

For more information on how to correctly set up your workstation, click HERE. Our Physiotherapists at Rebound can also offer Ergonomic Assessments and advice and provide more tailored advice based on your needs.