Improve Your Workstation, Increase Your Productivity

Posted October 30, 2015

Improve Your Workstation, Increase Your Productivity

The American Medical Association has deemed the current American seated working situation as bad for personal health. They have shown that sitting for such extended periods of time can cause health issues from obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, to even cancer. Those who sit most of the day increase their risk for cardiovascular disease. One of the many issues related to this increase in the sitting disease is the workspace ergonomics that confine much of the population to incorrect posture.

Studies have shown that we sit on average 7.7 hours a day, but that could be a low estimate as some have said it could be upwards of 15 hours a day. Many of those hours are in working cubicles or workspaces not properly designed to support correct posture.

On the bright side, improving your workspace will not only improve your health it will improve your productivity. Benefits of an ergonomically efficient workspace increase energy, respiration, cardiovascular circulation, and decrease back pains, depression, and fatigue. For employees and employers alike the benefits of increased productivity through proper workplace layouts can improve results at work.

Using ergonomically designed workspaces can include simple changes such as adjusting the height of your chair to be at eye level with your computer. Ensuring that your mouse and keyboard are ergonomically designed to reduce strain on your wrists.

Replacing your office chair with a more ergonomically supportive option is ideal. If costs become an issue, adding a simple Posture Ball Chair for the costs of around $50 is a perfect compromise. These ball chairs allow for core activation and supportive posture position while working. Many offices through out the country have begun implementing this change.

Additionally, correct placement of desk items needed for work is important. Keep items most used within close arms reach. Items less frequently used place slightly behind the more frequented items. Ideally being able to reach everything within arms length, reducing rotating, and bending would be best.

Research has shown an increase in 9.8% productivity just from simple ergonomic workplace improvements. A 10% increase per employee in a workplace can make for great improvements in a business.

More extreme options are adjustable desks, standing desks, or even treadmill desks, which allow the worker to walk while working, have been suggested for improvements to ergonomic workspace set up. The Take-a-Stand Project reduced time spent sitting by 224% (66 minutes per day), reduced upper back and neck pain by 54%, and improved mood states. The results were observed within 2 weeks of implementing the improvements.

Whether you are suffering from back pain, or cardiovascular disease, improving your workstation is a simple but highly effective way to improve your health situation.

To find out if you are developing postural distortion patterns get a Posture Diagnosis Online at the AmericanPostureInstitute.com. To contact Doctor Wade for more information on how your posture may be causing your health problems, how to stay healthy through proper posture, or for more ways to improve your posture email us at: API@AmericanPostureInstitute.com.

Reference:

The application of ergonomics in rural development: a review. Tahseen Jafry^,, David H O’Neill. International Development Group, Silsoe Research Institute, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS, UK. 9 May 1997

Reducing Occupational Sitting Time and Improving Worker Health: The Take-a-Stand Project, 2011. Nicolaas P. Pronk, PhD; Abigail S. Katz, PhD; Marcia Lowry, MS; Jane Rodmyre Payfer Pronk NP, Katz AS, Lowry M, Payfer JR. Reducing Occupational Sitting Time and Improving Worker Health: The Take-a-Stand Project, 2011. Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:110323. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888.pcd9.110323