Ergonomics in Daily Life

“Prevention is better than cure”.

I used to drive daily 100’s of  kms as the part of my work, One day when I woke up I had severe back pain, I met a doctor who instructed me to make the car seat near to the steering wheel so that the legs will be easily reaching the accelerator and breaks. After some days the back pain disappeared gradually.

How many of you had problems with your neck, back, elbow? the main cause of these MSK’s (musculoskeletal disorders) is because of our bad body posters. Ergonomics is a science of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the people who use them.

Everything in the world that humans use is made ergonomically. Each product design will go through a careful analysis by experts to modify the ergonomic standards.

But are we using it properly?

Do you adjust your chairs each time before sitting on it?

How many of you adjusted your monitors before starting today's work/study?

How many of you hold your mobile phones correctly?

I will try to explain some tips which if used properly will be an effective prevention for some of the musculoskeletal disorders which occur though the poster issues in daily life.

1.We will start with the basics. Sleep-How many persons are using pillows? Are you using the pillows which are made ergonomically safe so that your sleep patterns will improve and reduce the chance of MSK’s?

2.Next is the wallet. Men always forget the wallet in our back pocket in turn resulting in serious MSK’s. Ladies are you crossing your legs on top of another while sitting. Yes, it also will give pressure to the pelvis bone and may cause MSK.

3.Mobile phones and gadgets are used for many hours now a days. Majority of us are not holding it in the right way, the incorrect way of holding the gadget will cause more strain to the neck bone thereby causing MSK’s.

4.Some days before one of my kids came and told me to pick him up. I picked him from the ground just by bending. Suddenly a lightning pain passed from by lower back. Improper Lifting of weights can also cause MSK’s.

5.Sitting, in the modern world especially at the time of lock down and this pandemic are we moving our body enough?, May be in the office we will be moving better but work at home made us lazy, in the office as we all know we are using ergonomically made chairs which will make us in the comfort zone but our sofas and dining table are only made for the purpose of relaxing or other particular purposes but we make them our work place. So, make more body movements and some small exercises like stretching which will enhance our productivity as well as health.

Remember prevention is better than cure.