What Can Be Caused By Poor Ergonomics?

5 Ways Poor Ergonomics Can Have a Negative Impact on Your Health

1. Your Posture Can Suffer

Poor posture can cause herniated discs and muscle weakness in general. Alternatively, you can spend part of your day sitting and part of your day standing when you are working using an adjustable height computer workstation. Alternating your position during your workday from standing to sitting can help you maintain a better posture, which in turn can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders and back pain. In fact, the physical movement you’ll add to your day will help increase your blood flow, which helps boost your brain’s oxygen. An increase in oxygen can also raise energy levels throughout the day.

Many people who use a height-adjustable standing desk to switch between sitting and standing while working has noticed that switching positions help them remember to take quick breaks periodically to move around a bit. Staying too long in one position can also lead to back pain-especially if your posture is not always good.

2. You May Become Easily Fatigued

Let’s face it: You’re not doing your best job when you’re tired. And that’s not good for your performance overall at work. But it’s not just about enough sleep, keeping hydrated, and a proper diet— although for your health these are also very necessary! At best, tiredness is irritating and at worst it can lead to safety problems. Your workstation may contribute to your fatigue, especially if you find yourself sitting for hours on end in the same place.

Don’t keep the same pose or position for longer periods of time. Stand up, walk around, or do some light stretches every hour or so for a few minutes. Try performing the work part of the day while seated, and working part of the day while standing. By using a non-flat anti-fatigue mat, you can help prevent fatigue and hyperextend your knees when you are standing at your height adjustable standing desk while working.

3. You Can Increase Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease

Sitting all day seems to be associated with reducing the effectiveness of the body in regulating blood sugar known as metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association advises that “All adults, and particularly those with type 2 diabetes, should decrease the amount of time spent in daily sedentary behavior.” Moreover, a recent study by Kaiser Permanente indicated that men who spent at least five hours a day sitting had twice the risk of heart failure compared to those who sit less than two hours a day and exercise regularly

4. You May Gain Weight

Standing burns up calories more than sitting. You may need some time to work your way up to standing while you are working, and that’s where a height desk comes in. Whether you are sitting or standing, these desks shift vertically to the ideal position for you. Aim towards a target of being around half your working day, but don’t overdo it, or try to do it all at once! Wear comfortable shoes, and increase your standing time gradually.

5. You May Develop a Musculoskeletal Disorder

Musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, are problems that affect the movement of the body. The musculoskeletal system is composed of bones, ligaments, joints, cartilage, muscles, nerves, disks, and other connective tissues. In other words, the body parts which hold everything together and upright.

Other terms for MSDs include “repetitive stress injury” and “repetitive motion injury,” but those terms are becoming outdated. Where once it was believed that a single type of repetitive motion may cause MSDs, experts see studies showing that these injuries may have more than one risk factor.

Problems collectively referred to as musculoskeletal disorders can include:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Radial Tunnel Syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Ruptured or Herniated Disc
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Trigger Finger/Thumb
• Tendonitis

MSDs can cause discomfort and pain in any part of the body, but back pain is one of the most common symptoms.