ergonomics
draruns...@gmail.com
The term "ergonomics" is derived from two Greek words: "ergon",
meaning work and "nomoi", meaning natural laws. Ergonomists study
human capabilities in relationship to work demands.
POSTURE...
In recent years, ergonomists have attempted to define postures which
minimize unnecessary static work and reduce the forces acting on the
body. All of us could significantly reduce our risk of injury if we
could adhere to the following ergonomic principles:
All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several
different, but equally healthy and safe postures
Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest
appropriate muscle groups available.
Work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point
of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head,
trunk, and upper limbs.
THE PROBLEM...
Here, however, we arrive at a serious problem - and a challenge to
conventional ergonomic thinking: In order to put these recommendations
into practice, a person would have to be a skilled observer of his or
her own joint and muscle functioning and would have to be able to
change his or her posture to a healthier one at will. No one develops
this sort of highly refined sensory awareness without special training.
Therefore, in order to derive the benefits of ergonomic research, we
must learn how to observe our bodies in a new way.* Any attempt to
improve workplace conditions can have only limited success if this
issue is ignored.
A SOLUTION...
One training program that cultivates precisely these skills is the
Alexander Technique. It has a long history of helping people develop
the subtle coordination of thought and physical action required to
monitor and alter harmful patterns of posture and movement. In short,
it enables its students to put ergonomic principles into practice, and
thus helps them reduce their risk of developing a repetitive strain
injury.
The Alexander Technique was developed in the early 20th century before
ergonomics became a recognized science and has been applied since then
by people all ages and professions. The Technique can be described as a
simple and practical educational method which alerts people to ways in
which they are misusing their bodies, and how their everyday habits of
work may be harming them. It teaches people how to avoid work habits
which create excessive amounts of static work and how to reduce the
amount of unnecessary muscular force they are applying to their bodies.
Stated another way, the Technique teaches the use of the appropriate
amount of effort for a particular activity