Mor tips on being comfortable while typing ...
Have you heard of Repetitive Strain Injuries or RSI? If you have experienced wrist pain, shoulder pain, neck pain or back pain due to repetitive tasks, more likely you had an episode of RSI.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a repetitive strain injury among techies has become a byword for wrist pain or numbness of the hand. Repetitive tasks using keyboard and mouse that are not ergonomically designed to support the wrist or hand can damage the median nerve that connects the hand to the forearm. This is often accompanied by pain.
How can this be prevented? What can deliver permanent stress relief? Here are some tips:
1. Go Ergonomics!
Choose an Ergonomic Chair, Keyboard, Mouse and other Ergonomic Accessories.
Repetitive Strain Injuries are common among those who perform repetitive tasks using equipments that are not designed for such tasks, such as ordinary keyboards that do not cushion wrists or hands for long hours of work, including office desks and chairs that do not provide adequate lumbar support.
2. Maintain a Peaceful Work Environment.
Your work environment can affect your performance as well. Non-conducive work environment, such as noisy or cramped work spaces can trigger stress. Long exposure to this type of environment and office equipments that are not ergonomically-designed to fit the worker to his work produce strain on both body and mind, which over a period of time manifests into aches or pain that the worker may not easily comprehend. Left undiagnosed, RSI can cause downtimes and in an economy too volatile, no employee can afford to lose a job and employers would find it more expensive to train a new one.
3. Go Ergonomics (all the way!).
The science of Ergonomics introduces the importance of "fitting the tool to the worker."
There are many resources online that support the importance of providing employees with ergonomically-designed office equipments. Most employers who have read about ergonomics and what it can do to prevent RSI realized that cutting corners to beat the economic crisis should be done somewhere else and not on office tools that can prevent repetitive strain injuries.
It would prove mutually beneficial for both employers and their employees to use ergonomic office equipments rather than utilize those that may be cheaper at the onset, but would later prove more expensive due to lost hours on the job. Optimum performance at work can be achieved by eliminating pain and injuries that emanate from one-size-fits-all office equipments.
Are you experiencing pain on your wrist or neck? If yes, you could be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, which is classified as a repetitive strain injury. Do something about it. Seek medical attention first as there can be underlying causes that should be managed clinically. However, when symptoms recur, try to look into the realm of ergonomics. The result might just surprise you!"
Ambio Black
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Keyboard Trays and Ergonomics
The keyboard is the main interface between you and your computer. It is also the cause of most repetitive stress injuries resulting from computer use. Having the right ergonomic features in a keyboard tray is essential to your health and well being at a computer work station. A good keyboard tray can make a world of difference. A bad one can be worse than none at all.
Adjustable Height
The most important feature is the ability to adjust the height. Keyboard height is determined by your chair height (if sitting) and arm length. Being able to fine tune that and adjust it as you adjust your sitting position throughout the day is essential.
Keyboard Tilt
The keyboard needs to be held at a comfortable, negative angle that supports the natural wrist position. Typically this angle does not need to be changed often. Keyboard tilt does not need to be adjusted during subtle posture changes as the angle of your arms should remain relatively constant.
However, if your posture changes more dramatically during the day - say, from a slight forward tilt to a recline - then your keyboard tray should be easy to tilt.
Mouse House
The mouse should be placed next to and on the same level as the keyboard. Ideally it should be placed along the circular arc your lower arm makes when rotating from the keyboard to the side.
The keyboard tray should be able to accommodate the largest keyboard you are likely to use and the mouse on both the left and right side. There may come a time when mouse ambidexterity is needed.
The Rest Stop
Wrist / Palm rests are helpful during periods where your hands are inactive. There should be room for these as well if they are not already built in.
Slip & Slide
The ability to slide the keyboard tray in and out while still at operational height will allow you to scoot closer to or farther from the monitor to relieve eye strain while still maintaining an ergonomically sound setup.
Stability
Your keyboard tray should be rock solid. You do not want it to wobble or deflect when in use. A wobbly tray can be worse than just using the desktop or even your lap.
Simple trays mounted with drawer runners on both sides are stable but lack a number of these ergonomic benefits.
Adjustable mechanisms are typically center mounted and are more prone to deflection. Typically the cheaper the keyboard tray the worse the wobble.
Adjustable Height
The most important feature is the ability to adjust the height. Keyboard height is determined by your chair height (if sitting) and arm length. Being able to fine tune that and adjust it as you adjust your sitting position throughout the day is essential.
Keyboard Tilt
The keyboard needs to be held at a comfortable, negative angle that supports the natural wrist position. Typically this angle does not need to be changed often. Keyboard tilt does not need to be adjusted during subtle posture changes as the angle of your arms should remain relatively constant.
However, if your posture changes more dramatically during the day - say, from a slight forward tilt to a recline - then your keyboard tray should be easy to tilt.
Mouse House
The mouse should be placed next to and on the same level as the keyboard. Ideally it should be placed along the circular arc your lower arm makes when rotating from the keyboard to the side.
The keyboard tray should be able to accommodate the largest keyboard you are likely to use and the mouse on both the left and right side. There may come a time when mouse ambidexterity is needed.
The Rest Stop
Wrist / Palm rests are helpful during periods where your hands are inactive. There should be room for these as well if they are not already built in.
Slip & Slide
The ability to slide the keyboard tray in and out while still at operational height will allow you to scoot closer to or farther from the monitor to relieve eye strain while still maintaining an ergonomically sound setup.
Stability
Your keyboard tray should be rock solid. You do not want it to wobble or deflect when in use. A wobbly tray can be worse than just using the desktop or even your lap.
Simple trays mounted with drawer runners on both sides are stable but lack a number of these ergonomic benefits.
Adjustable mechanisms are typically center mounted and are more prone to deflection. Typically the cheaper the keyboard tray the worse the wobble.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Workplace Wellness
Working at a computer work station all day can take a toll on the body. Repetitive activities and lack of mobility can contribute to aches, pains, and eventual injuries.
Sitting at a desk while using the keyboard for hours on a day to day basis can result in poor circulation to joints and muscles, it can also create an imbalance in strength and flexibility of certain muscles, and muscle strain. These issues can be easily remedied by taking frequent short breaks, or “micro breaks,” throughout your day.
* Get out of your chair several times a day and move around—even for 30 seconds
* Roll your shoulders backwards
* Turn your head side to side
* Stretch out your forearms and your legs
Additionally, specific guidelines for your work station can help maximize your comfort and safety.
Your chair should have the following:
* Wheels (5 for better mobility)
* The ability to twist freely on its base
* Adjustable height
* Adjustable arm rests that will allow you to sit close to your desk
* Lumbar support
* Seat base that adjusts to a comfortable angle and allows you to sit up straight
The position of the keyboard is critical:
* The keyboard should be at a height that allows you to have your forearms slightly below a horizontal line—or your elbows at slightly more than a 90 degree angle.
* You should be able to slide your knees under the keyboard tray or desk.
* Avoid reaching for the keyboard by extending your arms or raising your shoulders.
* Try to avoid having the keyboard on top of your desk. That is too high for almost everyone—-unless you can raise your seat. The elbow angle is the best test of keyboard position.
The position of your computer monitor is important:
* The monitor should be directly in front of you.
* The top of the monitor should be at your eye level, and at a distance where you can see it clearly without squinting, or leaning forward or backward.
* If you need glasses for reading, you may need to have a special pair for use at your computer to avoid tipping your head backward to see through bi-focals or other types of reading glasses.
How can a physical therapist help?
Many physical therapists are experts at modifying work stations to increase efficiency and prevent or relieve pain. Additionally, if you are experiencing pain that isn’t relieved by modifications to your work station, you should see a physical therapist who can help develop a treatment plan to relieve your pain and improve your mobility.
Sitting at a desk while using the keyboard for hours on a day to day basis can result in poor circulation to joints and muscles, it can also create an imbalance in strength and flexibility of certain muscles, and muscle strain. These issues can be easily remedied by taking frequent short breaks, or “micro breaks,” throughout your day.
* Get out of your chair several times a day and move around—even for 30 seconds
* Roll your shoulders backwards
* Turn your head side to side
* Stretch out your forearms and your legs
Additionally, specific guidelines for your work station can help maximize your comfort and safety.
Your chair should have the following:
* Wheels (5 for better mobility)
* The ability to twist freely on its base
* Adjustable height
* Adjustable arm rests that will allow you to sit close to your desk
* Lumbar support
* Seat base that adjusts to a comfortable angle and allows you to sit up straight
The position of the keyboard is critical:
* The keyboard should be at a height that allows you to have your forearms slightly below a horizontal line—or your elbows at slightly more than a 90 degree angle.
* You should be able to slide your knees under the keyboard tray or desk.
* Avoid reaching for the keyboard by extending your arms or raising your shoulders.
* Try to avoid having the keyboard on top of your desk. That is too high for almost everyone—-unless you can raise your seat. The elbow angle is the best test of keyboard position.
The position of your computer monitor is important:
* The monitor should be directly in front of you.
* The top of the monitor should be at your eye level, and at a distance where you can see it clearly without squinting, or leaning forward or backward.
* If you need glasses for reading, you may need to have a special pair for use at your computer to avoid tipping your head backward to see through bi-focals or other types of reading glasses.
How can a physical therapist help?
Many physical therapists are experts at modifying work stations to increase efficiency and prevent or relieve pain. Additionally, if you are experiencing pain that isn’t relieved by modifications to your work station, you should see a physical therapist who can help develop a treatment plan to relieve your pain and improve your mobility.
The High Cost of Ignoring Ergonomic Work Practices The economic bennefits of ergonomics ...
"As any company manager knows, it is important to weigh the costs of implementing new work programs with the expected long-term financial gains. Items labeled as being ergonomic can put a large dent into budgets. The business of ergonomics has become big business. A fully adjustable ergonomic chair alone can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Then there is the fear that if one work station is altered, every work station will need to be similarly altered. Or that by bringing up the topic of ergonomics, employees will be made aware of the potential for injuries and start making claims. It is not surprising that many companies do not look towards ergonomic solutions as a means of controlling costs.
On the other hand, not addressing ergonomic issues can be quite costly as well. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the direct and indirect costs of musculoskeletal injuries can total as much as $20 billion dollars a year. A survey conducted by Liberty Mutual in August of 2001 revealed that 95% of respondents felt that workplace safety had a positive impact on a company's financial performance; 86% felt that workplace safety provided a return on investment; and 61% felt that $3 or more is saved for each $1 invested in workplace safety.
So, we know that ergonomic solutions can decrease the incidence and cost of injuries and enhance employee satisfaction. We can further maximize ergonomic investment by looking for no-to-low cost solutions. Here are a few basic ergonomic freebies to get you started.
Some solutions can be as simple as rearranging a work space, moving the work area higher or lower or closer, placing tools within easy reach, and keeping the working space directly in front of our bodies. Avoid excessive reach. Place most frequently used items within an easy reach envelope. Position furniture and work equipment to promote healthy posture.
The more repetitive your job tasks, the more you are at risk. Rotate tasks often. Get up and get moving: get a drink of water, make a phone call; take a walk to the copy or fax machine; walk down the hall to discuss an item with a co-worker rather than using email.
Ensure that tools are in good working order. If using sharp tools, make sure the blades are sharpened to reduce the exertion needed during use. Do not disengage any safety features."
On the other hand, not addressing ergonomic issues can be quite costly as well. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the direct and indirect costs of musculoskeletal injuries can total as much as $20 billion dollars a year. A survey conducted by Liberty Mutual in August of 2001 revealed that 95% of respondents felt that workplace safety had a positive impact on a company's financial performance; 86% felt that workplace safety provided a return on investment; and 61% felt that $3 or more is saved for each $1 invested in workplace safety.
So, we know that ergonomic solutions can decrease the incidence and cost of injuries and enhance employee satisfaction. We can further maximize ergonomic investment by looking for no-to-low cost solutions. Here are a few basic ergonomic freebies to get you started.
Some solutions can be as simple as rearranging a work space, moving the work area higher or lower or closer, placing tools within easy reach, and keeping the working space directly in front of our bodies. Avoid excessive reach. Place most frequently used items within an easy reach envelope. Position furniture and work equipment to promote healthy posture.
The more repetitive your job tasks, the more you are at risk. Rotate tasks often. Get up and get moving: get a drink of water, make a phone call; take a walk to the copy or fax machine; walk down the hall to discuss an item with a co-worker rather than using email.
Ensure that tools are in good working order. If using sharp tools, make sure the blades are sharpened to reduce the exertion needed during use. Do not disengage any safety features."
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Obama seeking ways to curb repetitive motion injuries from Ergonomics In The News by Usernomics
Getting back to a federal ergonomics program ...
"There once were job safety rules that helped keep down the number of ergonomic injuries. They were killed by President Bush and a GOP-run Congress.
Ergonomic injuries, also called musculo-skeletal and repetitive-motion injuries are by far the most common injuries workers get when they go to work. Hundreds of thousands of these injuries happen annually, costing millions of lost workdays.
Exact figures are no longer available because the Bush administration, after trashing the ergonomics rules, trashed separate rules requiring companies to report the number of such ailments.
Examples of ergonomic injuries include the back injuries health care workers suffer after they lift and turn patients, without benefit of mechanical assistance, and carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition of nerve degeneration requiring arm or hand surgery. Carpal tunnel affects categories of workers ranging from typists to meat cutters.
Recently, President Obama recruited Jordan Barab, a long-time occupational safety and health specialist and activist, for the position of acting director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Barab spoke about ergonomics at a May 5 legislative conference of union nurses in Washington D.C. He assured them that the Obama administration is committed to bringing back regulation in this area.
During the last year of the Clinton administration, after 10 years of lobbying by the labor movement and hard work by people inside and outside the Clinton White House, the Department of Labor issued a rule designed to reduce ergonomic injuries. The very first bill that Bush signed into law, after he was installed in the White House by the Supreme Court, was a law that repealed all the ergonomic injury rules.
“I remember the rules very well,” Barab, who worked in Clinton’s Department of Labor, told the nurses. “I remember nurses testifying, in tears, about ergonomic back injuries that cost them the careers they loved.
“We either have to get the repeal repealed, or go sector by sector to create new ergonomic rules,” he told the nurses. A third alternative, Barab added, “is to sit down with everyone,” including unions and business “to see what will work in the workplace and politically, to get around the repeal law."
"There once were job safety rules that helped keep down the number of ergonomic injuries. They were killed by President Bush and a GOP-run Congress.
Ergonomic injuries, also called musculo-skeletal and repetitive-motion injuries are by far the most common injuries workers get when they go to work. Hundreds of thousands of these injuries happen annually, costing millions of lost workdays.
Exact figures are no longer available because the Bush administration, after trashing the ergonomics rules, trashed separate rules requiring companies to report the number of such ailments.
Examples of ergonomic injuries include the back injuries health care workers suffer after they lift and turn patients, without benefit of mechanical assistance, and carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition of nerve degeneration requiring arm or hand surgery. Carpal tunnel affects categories of workers ranging from typists to meat cutters.
Recently, President Obama recruited Jordan Barab, a long-time occupational safety and health specialist and activist, for the position of acting director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Barab spoke about ergonomics at a May 5 legislative conference of union nurses in Washington D.C. He assured them that the Obama administration is committed to bringing back regulation in this area.
During the last year of the Clinton administration, after 10 years of lobbying by the labor movement and hard work by people inside and outside the Clinton White House, the Department of Labor issued a rule designed to reduce ergonomic injuries. The very first bill that Bush signed into law, after he was installed in the White House by the Supreme Court, was a law that repealed all the ergonomic injury rules.
“I remember the rules very well,” Barab, who worked in Clinton’s Department of Labor, told the nurses. “I remember nurses testifying, in tears, about ergonomic back injuries that cost them the careers they loved.
“We either have to get the repeal repealed, or go sector by sector to create new ergonomic rules,” he told the nurses. A third alternative, Barab added, “is to sit down with everyone,” including unions and business “to see what will work in the workplace and politically, to get around the repeal law."
RH Receives Furniture Industry Research Association Award
Leading ergonomic seating designer and manufacturer RH Chairs has won the award for Ergonomics Excellence, presented by FIRA - the Furniture Industry Research Association – for an unprecedented tenth consecutive time.
RH becomes the first company in the world to reach this remarkable goal. FIRA’s judging panel were particularly impressed by RH’s ongoing commitment to ergonomic design across the firm’s entire range of task, reception and meeting room chairs.
RH becomes the first company in the world to reach this remarkable goal. FIRA’s judging panel were particularly impressed by RH’s ongoing commitment to ergonomic design across the firm’s entire range of task, reception and meeting room chairs.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A helping hand for older workers Author: Joanne Crawford
The Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors has welcomed the Government proposal to stop forcing people to retire at the age of 65, from October 2011.
To enable older workers to function effectively, it's vital to understand how they work, both physiologically and psychologically. Although we change as we age, these can be improved by increased physical and mental activity and improving lifestyle factors such as reducing obesity and stopping smoking. Ergonomics can help older workers stay at work by improving workplace and environmental design, job design, task design and minimising the physical and mental risks to older workers. By ensuring that work is designed to fit the employee and their physical and mental capabilities, age should not be a barrier to continued working.
In an evidence review* carried out by ergonomists, it was identified that older people can be more accurate and have increased accumulated knowledge and experience to draw on. Although reaction time may slow slightly this is unlikely to impact on general working life. Age-related physiological change can be more significant but workplace design can support continued working by putting additional support mechanisms in place. Work and work equipment can also be designed to reduce the need for extreme physical exertion. Any risk to individuals from heavy lifting should be reduced by the manual handling legislation applicable all employees.
Ergonomists have a large role to play in this area in relation to both physical and mental workload. Ergonomics is key in developing good workplace design, environmental design and work organisation. The issue of maintaining a healthy older workforce is also related to other fields including public health, occupational health, rehabilitation, safety, social policy and occupational and health psychology. By working together we can hopefully achieve a safe and healthy environment for those 65 and over.
IEHF Registered Member Joanne Crawford has set up a Special Interest Group on Ageing and Work to highlight the role of ergonomics in this area and to bring interested parties together from within the ergonomics community and outside. More information about this group will be available soon.
*The health, safety and health promotion needs of older workers, report submitted by the Institute of Occupational Medicine to the IOSH Research Committee in 2009.
To enable older workers to function effectively, it's vital to understand how they work, both physiologically and psychologically. Although we change as we age, these can be improved by increased physical and mental activity and improving lifestyle factors such as reducing obesity and stopping smoking. Ergonomics can help older workers stay at work by improving workplace and environmental design, job design, task design and minimising the physical and mental risks to older workers. By ensuring that work is designed to fit the employee and their physical and mental capabilities, age should not be a barrier to continued working.
In an evidence review* carried out by ergonomists, it was identified that older people can be more accurate and have increased accumulated knowledge and experience to draw on. Although reaction time may slow slightly this is unlikely to impact on general working life. Age-related physiological change can be more significant but workplace design can support continued working by putting additional support mechanisms in place. Work and work equipment can also be designed to reduce the need for extreme physical exertion. Any risk to individuals from heavy lifting should be reduced by the manual handling legislation applicable all employees.
Ergonomists have a large role to play in this area in relation to both physical and mental workload. Ergonomics is key in developing good workplace design, environmental design and work organisation. The issue of maintaining a healthy older workforce is also related to other fields including public health, occupational health, rehabilitation, safety, social policy and occupational and health psychology. By working together we can hopefully achieve a safe and healthy environment for those 65 and over.
IEHF Registered Member Joanne Crawford has set up a Special Interest Group on Ageing and Work to highlight the role of ergonomics in this area and to bring interested parties together from within the ergonomics community and outside. More information about this group will be available soon.
*The health, safety and health promotion needs of older workers, report submitted by the Institute of Occupational Medicine to the IOSH Research Committee in 2009.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Phys Ed: The Men Who Stare at Screens By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS
In 1982, researchers affiliated with the Cooper Institute in Dallas surveyed a large group of well-educated, affluent men. The researchers were interested in the men’s exercise habits, but they also asked, almost incidentally, about their indolence. Specifically, they inquired about how many hours each day the men spent watching television or sitting in a car. (This was before you could do both at once.) Over the years, the survey’s main results were used to reinforce a growing body of science about the health benefits of regular exercise.
Phys Ed
But the information about the amount of time the men spent being inactive remained largely unexplored. Recently, however, scientists from the University of South Carolina and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., parsed the full data. In a study published in May in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, they reported that, to no one’s surprise, the men who sat the most had the greatest risk of heart problems. Men who spent more than 23 hours a week watching TV and sitting in their cars (as passengers or as drivers) had a 64 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than those who sat for 11 hours a week or less. What was unexpected was that many of the men who sat long hours and developed heart problems also exercised. Quite a few of them said they did so regularly and led active lifestyles. The men worked out, then sat in cars and in front of televisions for hours, and their risk of heart disease soared, despite the exercise. Their workouts did not counteract the ill effects of sitting.
Most of us have heard that sitting is unhealthy. But many of us also have discounted the warnings, since we spend our lunch hours conscientiously visiting the gym. We consider ourselves sufficiently active. But then we drive back to the office, settle at our desks and sit for the rest of the day. We are, in a phrase adopted by physiologists, ‘‘active couch potatoes.’’
Related
The amount of time that most Americans spend being inactive has risen steadily in recent decades. A 2009 editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported that, on average, adults spend more than nine hours a day in oxymoronic ‘‘sedentary activities.’’ For studies like these, scientists categorize activities by the number of METs they demand. A MET, or metabolic equivalent of task, is a measure of energy, with one MET being the amount of energy you burn lying down for one minute. Sedentary behaviors demand one to one and a half METs, or very little exertion.
Decades ago, before the advent of computers, plasma TVs and Roombas, people spent more time completing ‘‘light-intensity activities,’’ which require between one and a half and three METs. Most ‘‘home activities,’’ like mopping, cooking and changing light bulbs, demand between two and three METs. (One exception is ‘‘butchering animals,’’ a six-MET activity, according to a bogglingly comprehensive compilation from 2000 of the METs associated with different activities.) Nowadays, few of us accumulate much light-intensity activity. We’ve replaced those hours with sitting.
The physiological consequences are only slowly being untangled. In a number of recent animal studies, when rats or mice were not allowed to amble normally around in their cages, they rapidly developed unhealthy cellular changes in their muscles. The animals showed signs of insulin resistance and had higher levels of fatty acids in their blood. Scientists believe the changes are caused by a lack of muscular contractions. If you sit for long hours, you experience no ‘‘isometric contraction of the antigravity (postural) muscles,’’ according to an overview of the consequences of inactivity published this month in Exercise and Sports Sciences Reviews. Your muscles, unused for hours at a time, change in subtle fashion, and as a result, your risk for heart disease, diabetes and other diseases can rise.
Regular workout sessions do not appear to fully undo the effects of prolonged sitting. ‘‘There seem to be different pathways’’ involved in the beneficial physiological effects of exercising and the deleterious impacts of sitting, says Tatiana Warren, a graduate student in exercise science at the University of South Carolina and the lead author of the study of men who sat too much. ‘‘One does not undo the other,’’ she says.
You can, however, ameliorate the dangers of inactivity with several easy steps — actual steps. ‘‘Look for ways to decrease physical inactivity,’’ Ms. Warren says, beyond 30-minute bouts of jogging or structured exercise. Stand up. Pace around your office. Get off the couch and grab a mop or change a light bulb the next time you watch ‘‘Dancing With the Stars.’’
Phys Ed
But the information about the amount of time the men spent being inactive remained largely unexplored. Recently, however, scientists from the University of South Carolina and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., parsed the full data. In a study published in May in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, they reported that, to no one’s surprise, the men who sat the most had the greatest risk of heart problems. Men who spent more than 23 hours a week watching TV and sitting in their cars (as passengers or as drivers) had a 64 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than those who sat for 11 hours a week or less. What was unexpected was that many of the men who sat long hours and developed heart problems also exercised. Quite a few of them said they did so regularly and led active lifestyles. The men worked out, then sat in cars and in front of televisions for hours, and their risk of heart disease soared, despite the exercise. Their workouts did not counteract the ill effects of sitting.
Most of us have heard that sitting is unhealthy. But many of us also have discounted the warnings, since we spend our lunch hours conscientiously visiting the gym. We consider ourselves sufficiently active. But then we drive back to the office, settle at our desks and sit for the rest of the day. We are, in a phrase adopted by physiologists, ‘‘active couch potatoes.’’
Related
The amount of time that most Americans spend being inactive has risen steadily in recent decades. A 2009 editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported that, on average, adults spend more than nine hours a day in oxymoronic ‘‘sedentary activities.’’ For studies like these, scientists categorize activities by the number of METs they demand. A MET, or metabolic equivalent of task, is a measure of energy, with one MET being the amount of energy you burn lying down for one minute. Sedentary behaviors demand one to one and a half METs, or very little exertion.
Decades ago, before the advent of computers, plasma TVs and Roombas, people spent more time completing ‘‘light-intensity activities,’’ which require between one and a half and three METs. Most ‘‘home activities,’’ like mopping, cooking and changing light bulbs, demand between two and three METs. (One exception is ‘‘butchering animals,’’ a six-MET activity, according to a bogglingly comprehensive compilation from 2000 of the METs associated with different activities.) Nowadays, few of us accumulate much light-intensity activity. We’ve replaced those hours with sitting.
The physiological consequences are only slowly being untangled. In a number of recent animal studies, when rats or mice were not allowed to amble normally around in their cages, they rapidly developed unhealthy cellular changes in their muscles. The animals showed signs of insulin resistance and had higher levels of fatty acids in their blood. Scientists believe the changes are caused by a lack of muscular contractions. If you sit for long hours, you experience no ‘‘isometric contraction of the antigravity (postural) muscles,’’ according to an overview of the consequences of inactivity published this month in Exercise and Sports Sciences Reviews. Your muscles, unused for hours at a time, change in subtle fashion, and as a result, your risk for heart disease, diabetes and other diseases can rise.
Regular workout sessions do not appear to fully undo the effects of prolonged sitting. ‘‘There seem to be different pathways’’ involved in the beneficial physiological effects of exercising and the deleterious impacts of sitting, says Tatiana Warren, a graduate student in exercise science at the University of South Carolina and the lead author of the study of men who sat too much. ‘‘One does not undo the other,’’ she says.
You can, however, ameliorate the dangers of inactivity with several easy steps — actual steps. ‘‘Look for ways to decrease physical inactivity,’’ Ms. Warren says, beyond 30-minute bouts of jogging or structured exercise. Stand up. Pace around your office. Get off the couch and grab a mop or change a light bulb the next time you watch ‘‘Dancing With the Stars.’’
DeXigner Press Release
RH Form's latest innovation, the Ambio series, marks the forward-thinking company's first venture into applying their renowned skills in seating design to environments such as lounges, meeting areas and conference environments, creating a "family" of chairs that combines consistency of style with functionality throughout the range.
Developed in conjunction with Zenit Design Group, Ambio combines function with fashion in four different versions, including work chairs that perfectly combine RH's trademarks of style and flexibility as well as incorporating entirely new design properties.
These include the use of "Ventec", a material developed in conjunction with RH that incorporates a certain amount of horsehair to provide unparalleled levels of ventilation to the chair's back and seat - up to 23 percent better than conventional chairs - almost literally resulting in a "chair that breathes".
This, coupled with a new 100 percent wool fabric developed by the company, results in highly efficient removal of moisture and heat from the chair - again, as much as 15 percent more than other chairs. The Ambio series is also entirely recyclable, in keeping with RH's reputation for conscientious and sustainable product design.
Functional and environmentally-conscious design doesn't mean minimal though, as Ambio boasts an unrivalled range of individual features and accessories including a coat hanger, removable soft case and a lockable compartment, all of which have been developed to expand the range of the chairs' use, in accordance with the expanding nature of work patterns today.
Developed in conjunction with Zenit Design Group, Ambio combines function with fashion in four different versions, including work chairs that perfectly combine RH's trademarks of style and flexibility as well as incorporating entirely new design properties.
These include the use of "Ventec", a material developed in conjunction with RH that incorporates a certain amount of horsehair to provide unparalleled levels of ventilation to the chair's back and seat - up to 23 percent better than conventional chairs - almost literally resulting in a "chair that breathes".
This, coupled with a new 100 percent wool fabric developed by the company, results in highly efficient removal of moisture and heat from the chair - again, as much as 15 percent more than other chairs. The Ambio series is also entirely recyclable, in keeping with RH's reputation for conscientious and sustainable product design.
Functional and environmentally-conscious design doesn't mean minimal though, as Ambio boasts an unrivalled range of individual features and accessories including a coat hanger, removable soft case and a lockable compartment, all of which have been developed to expand the range of the chairs' use, in accordance with the expanding nature of work patterns today.
Ergonomic Excellence Award Goes to RH
Release type: News
RH Chairs, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of ergonomic seating, is celebrating ten years of ergonomic excellence, having held the Ergonomics Excellence Award since its inception ten years ago – the only company to do so. The company has a history steeped in ergonomics, and with this emphasis it also needed independent certification to verify the high level of ergonomic standards met in the design and manufacture of its chairs.
FIRA's Ergonomic Excellence Award helps the company demonstrate the high standards adhered to in all commercial areas including manufacturing and the environment. RH Chairs uses the Ergonomics Excellence logo on headed paper and marketing materials, and also on certification documentation for tenders where relevant. Although it is not a required certificate for specifiers at the moment, the company uses the certificate to differentiate itself from competitors.
"Obtaining the FIRA Ergonomic Excellence Award has been of major benefit to RH Chairs over the years,” said Jorgen Josefsson, managing director of RH Chairs. “Having an independent third party assess and verify the ergonomic quality of our products means we rarely have to convince customers of our quality. It also benefits us in tendering processes where having such an accolade is not only looked upon favourable but sometimes is a requirement." FIRA has recently refreshed and relaunched the Ergonomics Excellence Award and we will be adopting the new logo in the near future.
RH Chairs, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of ergonomic seating, is celebrating ten years of ergonomic excellence, having held the Ergonomics Excellence Award since its inception ten years ago – the only company to do so. The company has a history steeped in ergonomics, and with this emphasis it also needed independent certification to verify the high level of ergonomic standards met in the design and manufacture of its chairs.
FIRA's Ergonomic Excellence Award helps the company demonstrate the high standards adhered to in all commercial areas including manufacturing and the environment. RH Chairs uses the Ergonomics Excellence logo on headed paper and marketing materials, and also on certification documentation for tenders where relevant. Although it is not a required certificate for specifiers at the moment, the company uses the certificate to differentiate itself from competitors.
"Obtaining the FIRA Ergonomic Excellence Award has been of major benefit to RH Chairs over the years,” said Jorgen Josefsson, managing director of RH Chairs. “Having an independent third party assess and verify the ergonomic quality of our products means we rarely have to convince customers of our quality. It also benefits us in tendering processes where having such an accolade is not only looked upon favourable but sometimes is a requirement." FIRA has recently refreshed and relaunched the Ergonomics Excellence Award and we will be adopting the new logo in the near future.
RH-Thinking Forward
To say that RH Chairs exemplifies contemporary thinking on a wide range of issues would be a bit of an understatement. RH has built its unrivaled reputation by adhering to strict principles on both the environment and how design impacts on the performance of individuals, organizations and society. But then you would expect nothing less from a firm born in a country that is a byword for progressive thinking in these areas.
RH was founded in 1977 in Sweden’s Småland County by Rolf Holstensson. Rolf’s own experience of the negative effects of sedentary work led him to develop the business’s core concept with the help of a team or the world’s most renowned ergonomists. The aim was to design a chair that would facilitate an upright posture, be easy to adjust and give optimal support while simultaneously encouraging movement. Those core ideals were ahead of their time 30 years ago and are now strikingly contemporary. The firm’s commitment to them over the years has meant RH has always maintained its role at the forefront of chair design. Little wonder that RH is the only chair designer to have won 10 consecutive FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Awards.
Similarly, RH has always been one of the world’s foremost innovators in the way it minimizes its impact on the environment. This approach extends throughout every aspect of the organization and its products, from the use of materials to production processes, logistics to energy consumption. Little wonder that RH is one of the first companies in its field to achieve certification in accordance with the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) system, a global standard aimed at meeting the demand from customers for better information and more sophisticated environmental standards.
RH was founded in 1977 in Sweden’s Småland County by Rolf Holstensson. Rolf’s own experience of the negative effects of sedentary work led him to develop the business’s core concept with the help of a team or the world’s most renowned ergonomists. The aim was to design a chair that would facilitate an upright posture, be easy to adjust and give optimal support while simultaneously encouraging movement. Those core ideals were ahead of their time 30 years ago and are now strikingly contemporary. The firm’s commitment to them over the years has meant RH has always maintained its role at the forefront of chair design. Little wonder that RH is the only chair designer to have won 10 consecutive FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Awards.
Similarly, RH has always been one of the world’s foremost innovators in the way it minimizes its impact on the environment. This approach extends throughout every aspect of the organization and its products, from the use of materials to production processes, logistics to energy consumption. Little wonder that RH is one of the first companies in its field to achieve certification in accordance with the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) system, a global standard aimed at meeting the demand from customers for better information and more sophisticated environmental standards.
RH Performance Study
Sitting is probably the most common working posture in today’s industrialised world. So much so that we tend to take it for granted. Yet surely it must be possible to get more out of this simple everyday action!
Researchers now agree on the importance of varied posture or “active sitting” in the workplace to reduce fatigue and help prevent damaging musculoskeletal disorders. Despite this, work-related injuries, such as back, neck and shoulder complaints, sadly remain very common.
While RH Chairs already has a strong and well deserved reputation for helping people overcome their workrelated ailments, we wanted to go further. We already know that our chairs can help alleviate aches and pains but, at the other end of the spectrum, could sitting in one of our high-performance chairs actually increase work performance while seated?
RH has pioneered research to further highlight the relationship between the work environment, personnel performance and reduced absenteeism. To understand the link between our chairs and enhanced user performance, we continue to conduct what we call “RH Performance Studies”.
RH Performance Study
http://np.netpublicator.com/np/n40199009/RH_Performance_Study_UK_low.pdf
Researchers now agree on the importance of varied posture or “active sitting” in the workplace to reduce fatigue and help prevent damaging musculoskeletal disorders. Despite this, work-related injuries, such as back, neck and shoulder complaints, sadly remain very common.
While RH Chairs already has a strong and well deserved reputation for helping people overcome their workrelated ailments, we wanted to go further. We already know that our chairs can help alleviate aches and pains but, at the other end of the spectrum, could sitting in one of our high-performance chairs actually increase work performance while seated?
RH has pioneered research to further highlight the relationship between the work environment, personnel performance and reduced absenteeism. To understand the link between our chairs and enhanced user performance, we continue to conduct what we call “RH Performance Studies”.
RH Performance Study
http://np.netpublicator.com/np/n40199009/RH_Performance_Study_UK_low.pdf
Friday, September 10, 2010
Press Release
RH Chairs, distributed in the United States by RGP Ergo of Bristol, Rhode Island, is now one of the first companies in its field to achieve certification in accordance with the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) system. EPD is a global system aimed at meeting the growing demand from customers for better environmental information along with more and more sophisticated and stringent green certifications.
The International EPD system was launched in 2008 as a revision of other EPD systems that had been in place for almost a decade across a large number of countries. RH has moved quickly to gain the environmental certification, a testament to the already outstanding environmental standards of the firm.
RH were granted the certification following extensive independent verification by a third party verifier focusing on published research and data, plus other factors such as resource use, global warming potential and generation of waste. The verification is done according to ISO 14025. The EPD system aims to provide buyers with easily accessible, factual, comparable and verifiable information about the environmental performance of products and services.
The EPD certification has been achieved across all of RH’s core products including the RH Ambio, RH Extend and RH Logic 400, which are the first office chairs to receive pre-certification according to the International EPD System.
– It has been important for us to move quickly. The new EPD aims to make it easy for buyers to understand the real environmental impact of their procurement decisions and we welcome the sophistication of the EPD system in meeting this objective. We were able to move so quickly to achieve EPD certification because we have always taken a sophisticated approach to environmental issues in both the design and manufacture of our products and indeed in every aspect of our operations. Our progressive approach in going way beyond what is the minimum required of us has not only helped us to flourish as a business, but means we are the best placed firm of our kind to meet new standards and certifications as they develop, says Jorgen Josefsson, RH Chairs spokesperson.
– An EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment from cradle to grave and maps all relevant environmental aspects from a life-cycle perspective. What this provides us with is reliable and up to date knowledge which can be used in many ways to sharpen our competitive edge. For example, it can provide input to our eco-design, product development work and supply-chain. EPDs can also be a useful tool in green purchasing because they include all sorts of information including content of hazardous substances, information about disassembly and recycling of used products, says Christina Nordin, Vice President Quality, and Scandinavian Business Seating & Environmental Manager RH.
- Responsible consumption can be encouraged by good design , says co-owner ofRH distributor RGP Ergo, Dave Solomon; RH products last longer because of good design and quality manufacture. Our chairs are manufactured to easily change upholstery or padding, and no glue is used in the process. Buying an RH chair will save you money in the long-run, and ultimately be better environmentally.
The International EPD system was launched in 2008 as a revision of other EPD systems that had been in place for almost a decade across a large number of countries. RH has moved quickly to gain the environmental certification, a testament to the already outstanding environmental standards of the firm.
RH were granted the certification following extensive independent verification by a third party verifier focusing on published research and data, plus other factors such as resource use, global warming potential and generation of waste. The verification is done according to ISO 14025. The EPD system aims to provide buyers with easily accessible, factual, comparable and verifiable information about the environmental performance of products and services.
The EPD certification has been achieved across all of RH’s core products including the RH Ambio, RH Extend and RH Logic 400, which are the first office chairs to receive pre-certification according to the International EPD System.
– It has been important for us to move quickly. The new EPD aims to make it easy for buyers to understand the real environmental impact of their procurement decisions and we welcome the sophistication of the EPD system in meeting this objective. We were able to move so quickly to achieve EPD certification because we have always taken a sophisticated approach to environmental issues in both the design and manufacture of our products and indeed in every aspect of our operations. Our progressive approach in going way beyond what is the minimum required of us has not only helped us to flourish as a business, but means we are the best placed firm of our kind to meet new standards and certifications as they develop, says Jorgen Josefsson, RH Chairs spokesperson.
– An EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment from cradle to grave and maps all relevant environmental aspects from a life-cycle perspective. What this provides us with is reliable and up to date knowledge which can be used in many ways to sharpen our competitive edge. For example, it can provide input to our eco-design, product development work and supply-chain. EPDs can also be a useful tool in green purchasing because they include all sorts of information including content of hazardous substances, information about disassembly and recycling of used products, says Christina Nordin, Vice President Quality, and Scandinavian Business Seating & Environmental Manager RH.
- Responsible consumption can be encouraged by good design , says co-owner ofRH distributor RGP Ergo, Dave Solomon; RH products last longer because of good design and quality manufacture. Our chairs are manufactured to easily change upholstery or padding, and no glue is used in the process. Buying an RH chair will save you money in the long-run, and ultimately be better environmentally.
National Ergonomics Convention
RH Chairs will be attending the National Ergo Conference in Las Vegas December 1, 2 & 3. Look for us in Booth 440.
http://www.ergoexpo.com/
http://www.ergoexpo.com/
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