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In laboratory environments, it’s not uncommon for people to spend greatly extended periods of time working in seated positions.
Unfortunately, neither is developing the bad seating habits which can lead to serious injuries. A new report this week also found that children as young as 12 are being diagnosed with nerve damage caused by slouching over laptop screens. Millions of others are at risk of ‘irretrievable damage’ to their spines, necks and shoulders because of poor posture when using laptops.
The key to preventing long term injury is employing ergonomic principles in workspace design, seating posture and chair selection, according to a firm that specializes in ergonomic lab seating.
Ed Metzger, president of BioFit Engineered Products, a global manufacturer of ergonomic seating solutions, said the first step in avoiding ergonomic problems caused by risk factors like repetition, force, temperature extremes and vibration is to work within an optimum comfort zone. To illustrate this point, Metzger explained his basic "dinner table" rules.
"Think about the way you set a table – everything should be placed within easy reach and range of motion. That’s the way a workstation should be configured," Metzger said. "It’s the best way to avoid undue muscle strain and premature fatigue from overextending."
The next thing to consider is posture. In an article published on spineuniverse.com, Professor Alan Hedge, Ph.D., Director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University, referenced studies which found that the lower back problems of sedentary workers were associated with inappropriate sitting posture and poor chair design.
"As we hunch forwards, the lower back curves outwards into ‘kyphosis’ [bending the spine opposite of its natural position]," Hedge reported. "What we want is to be able to sit and maintain the lumbar spine in a position called, ‘lordosis.’ If we sit on a good ergonomic chair, the seat pan is curved from back to front to encourage the pelvis to rotate forward, and this helps the lumbar spine to maintain lordosis."
Elaborating on this point, Metzger added, "Kyphosis is a very common condition for microscope users. As they bend forward to look at a slide, they put maximum pressure on the spinal discs without even knowing it. BioFit chairs are fully adjustable, providing for full lumbar support and forward lean to counterbalance the tendency to slouch into poor posture."
BioFit ergonomic chairs represent what Metzger calls, "value ergonomics," a concept that translates into better long-term value and adaptability for different uses. "With a BioFit chair, you get a product that’s backed by an industry-best 13-year warranty, so you’re assured of good ergonomics for a long time," Metzger explained. "And that’s a great combination to find, particularly when you know what to look for."
Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, BioFit Engineered Products is an industry-leading manufacturer of ergonomic seating, cafeteria and mobile tables, and carts for office, industrial, educational, healthcare, bio- and high-tech, hospitality, and custom environments.
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