Ergo University – Courses

CHAIR-100 Sleuthing to find the root cause

As ergonomists, we are always looking for the “root cause” of a discomfort – in other words, what is the underlying reason for the problem. Often the root cause of a specific work-related discomfort is clear, such as a poor posture due to a non-adjustable chair, and addressing the risk is a straightforward process. However, sometimes the root cause of a discomfort is not evident, and can require a thorough analysis of not only the setup, but how the job is performed. Following are a few examples of a root cause of a discomfort issue that may not be evident upon an initial analysis.

Many cases of neck discomfort, especially when the monitors are properly positioned, can be traced to a chair back that is not locked upright and supportive. This is because the torso will tend to recline if the chair back is reclining with it, and the head will be thrust into a forward position due to the righting reflex of the head as well as the greater ease of viewing the monitor in this position. This forward head posture causes strain to the musculature of the neck and upper back. Ensure that the chair back is locked upright, the torso is upright and supported by the chair back, and the head is balanced directly over the shoulders. The importance of a good, supportive chair cannot be understated.

Over the years I have had employees come to me with bilateral bicep and forearm discomfort, which ultimately ended being directly related to pulling oneself around within a cube environment by grabbing the front edge of the desk surface and pulling the chair toward a work surface. Frequent performance of this activity can strain the upper extremity musculature, especially on carpeted surfaces. Ensure that the casters are appropriate for the flooring and that work is organized in such a way that it doesn't require extensive shifting between work areas. Encourage employees to get up and walk to printers, back work surfaces, etc. instead of rolling the chair around large cubicle or office work areas.

Another factor that can cause upper extremity discomfort but may not be immediately observable or identified as a risk factor is repeatedly picking up the mouse. Although this can be attributed to a bad habit, the root cause behind the perceived need to do this is often inadequate cursor speed, especially if using two monitors. Increasing the speed of the cursor will result in less mouse movement, decreasing the need to pick up and reposition the mouse on a regular basis. This habit is difficult to break, but a larger mouse that is more difficult to grip and pick up can help as well.

Good luck, detectives!

CHAIR-101 Scapular Impedance - What is It? Introduction to the concept of scapular impedance and how to prevent it.

Scapular Impedance. As the name suggests, the concept of “scapular impedance” is centered around allowing freedom of motion for a seated individual’s shoulder blade area. According to the ergonomists and chiropractors with whom we have consulted, when people are seated in a chair with a full, “normal backrest, the body’s natural tendency will be to hunch forward. This predilection towards ”scrunching” is - with near uniform agreement - largely recognized as an unhealthy position for the human body to remain in; especially in prolonged seating situations. With backrests that taper away from the scapular area, occupants have the advantage of being able to sit back and avoid the type of interference that full chair backs can cause.

In essence, a chair occupant’s body and posture will tend to adjust into healthier positions as impediments to range of motion are removed. This adjustment that the body will naturally make will therefore lessen the occupant’s inclination to scrunch. When combined with other properly adjusted ergonomic seating features, the freedom of the scapular area will promote a more natural, healthier sitting position.

A further benefit of chairs that address scapular impedance is the promotion of an active “stretch-response”. When leaning into the backrest of a chair with tapered contours, occupants will experience a natural stretch-response that is encouraged by the differential travel distance between the open shoulder blades and the supported spinal column areas.

Basically, because the shoulder blades are freed up to travel slightly further backwards than the central area of the back, occupants will experience a gradual stretching motion as they lean back.

For further discussion about the benefit of chairs focusing on scapular impedance, or to share your thoughts, please visit the other courses in this section.

CHAIR-103 Patented Ergonomic Design!

The OM5 Series was designed to be intuitive, user-adaptive & uniquely suited for today’s ’untethered’ knowledge-workers.

The OM5 Series encourages workers to be in a constant state of motion throughout the workday by eliminating the restrictive ’lock-outs’ of other seating.

The OM5 takes its cues from ergonomists who have shared their observation that users need to make adjustments throughout the day to prevent fatigue, poor circulation, and tension.

5 ergonomic keys | OM5 Series

1. Open Body Angles Improve circulation. Infinitely open the thigh-torso angle up to 23” for better circulation & stretch-breaks
2. Ease-of-Use Simple theory: If it’s complicated, no one will use it. Practical design leads the OM5 to learn & adapt to its user (rather than the other way around)
3. Cues from Musical Instruments Specifically tailored slat length, spacing & attenuation in the back & seat suspension membranes all work in concert to provide firmer or softer support as needed
4. Core Muscles Emphasize the user’s Abdominal Core. Promote better balance between abdominal and lower back muscles.
5. Body-Activated Motion! No Tension Knob Necessary. The specifically calibrated geometry of the OM5 does the work of balancing your body’s motion with the chair’s recline.

To Learn More or Ask Questions... - Visit the OM5 Product page - Contact us via email or call 877-776-5678 - Download: The-OM5-Series-by-Office-Master-(OM5-Summary-Sheet).pdf

CHAIR-105 Advanced Seat Cushion Technologies

Applied Ergonomics Sitting for long hours at a time is unnatural for the human body and can lead to undue stress if comfort and proper ergonomics are not balanced and achieved. One approach to this problem is Double Comfort Seating - Technology.

Sigh-Producing Comfort. OM’s Double Comfort Seating™ (DCS) Technology, is a unique layered system of self-conforming memory foam, combined with firmer OM high-resilience cushioning. Years of research and development have resulted in a seating experience that is at once soft and supportive, and truly beyond compare.

By combining German and Japanese process technologies and formulas for molding cushions, OM is able to create a medical-grade seat cushion that provides even more support than our standard high-resilience seat cushion. This additional support comes with the added benefit of a body-conforming seat which allows users to remain comfortably seated for longer periods of time.

The DCS™ Technology seat cushion has achieved excellent results when put through a series of ’seating durability’ tests. The seat cushion will withstand the rigors of every day stress and wear while remaining comfortable and supportive.

OM-Seating-Technologies.pdf

CHAIR-209 DB Fusion: Preventing Scapular Impedance Preventing Scapular Impedance

OM has taken the concept of unrestricted scapular motion from the Discovery Back Series and ’fused’ it with a standard backrest. The Discovery Back ’Fusion’ promotes a healthier seating posture and greater range of motion. This support to the user’s spine also results in a more comfortable seating experience which can lead to increased productivity.

Discovery Back ’Fusion’ is created by inserting a wedge of our standard high-resilience foam where the spine interacts with the standard backrest. Memory foam is then layered over the entire backrest, including the Discovery Back ’Fusion’ insert. The overall ’look’ of the chair is maintained while ergonomic benefits are achieved.

View the Discovery Back Collection

ERGO-110A Core Concepts in Workplace Ergonomics Take a quick course in Ergonomics!

Basic Edition of Ergonomic fitting Concepts:

1. Monitor Height
   Place top edge of screen at eye level.
2. Wrist Postures
   Keep wrists flat with little or no bending.
3. Mouse Placement
   Place at same level of keyboard and as close to sides as possible.
4. Thigh Position
   Keep thighs parallel to floor.
5. Document Holder
   Place document at same level as monitor.
6. Feet Position
   Place feet flat on floor or footboard.
7. Monitor Distance
   Keep at proper distance for screen size.

ERGO-110B Expanded Concepts in Workplace Ergonomics The BIFMA Ultimate Test for Fit

• 7.1 SEAT HEIGHT
  Users should be able to sit with their feet comfortably on the floor or footrest without undue pressure on the underside of the thighs. The thigh-to-torso angle should not be less than 90’.
• 7.2 SEAT DEPTH
  Users should be able to sit in the chair without undue pressure against the back of the knees, their back properly supported by the backrest and with adequate buttock and thigh support.
• 7.3 SEAT WIDTH
  The seat should be wider than the hip breadth of the user with allowance for movement and clothing. The seat width should not limit the ability to use the armrests comfortably.
• 7.4 SEAT PAN ANGLE
  This should allow users to support their feet on the floor or footrest. They should not cause the user’s torso-to-thigh angle to be less than 90’. Forward seat pan angles should not cause users to shift excessive weight to their feet or experience the sensation of sliding out of the chair.
• 7.5 BACK SUPPORT
  

  SEAT BACKREST HEIGHT. All backrests should provide adequate lumbar support and buttocks clearance. For tasks requiring upper body mobility, the backrest should not interfere with the user’s movement. For users who prefer reclining postures or greater upper back support, the back height should provide support for the shoulder blades.

  BACKREST WIDTH. The width of the backrest should provide adequate support for the curvature of the user’s back without causing localized pressure points.

  LUMBAR SUPPORT. The height and shape of the lumbar support should coincide with the lumbar curve (’the small’) of the user’s back. The support should be firm, but not cause localized pressure points.

• 7.6 MOVEMENTS OF THE SEAT PAN AND BACK SUPPORT
  The user should be able to sit in a position where the torso-to-thigh angle is equal to or greater than 90’. The seat and backrest angles should accommodate the varying postures assumed by the user throughout the day.
• 7.7 ARM SUPPORT
  

  ARMREST HEIGHT. This should allow users to sit in a variety of postures while supporting their forearms and/or elbows in a manner that avoids lifting the shoulders (armrests too high) or leaning to the side to reach the armrest (armrests too low). The armrest height should allow accessibility to, and performance of, tasks.

  ARMREST LENGTH. The length of the armrest should allow users to sit close enough to the work surface to perform their tasks while maintaining contact with the backrest

  INSIDE DISTANCE BETWEEN ARMRESTS. Armrests should allow users to sit in a variety of postures while supporting their forearms in a manner that avoids lifting the shoulders and/or excessive outward positioning of the elbows. Armrests should allow accessibility to, and performance of, tasks. The inside distance between the armrests should allow the user to enter and exit the chair easily. The hips should comfortably fit between the armrests or supports.

ERGO-205 Case Study: Ergonomics In Action!

Computer Usage Need Not Be Hazardous to Your Health: A Case Study The following story is a case study taken from my forthcoming book Ergonomics Made Incredibly Simple, and No Simpler; which is a semi-fictitious account from an OccuCom client. My goal in providing this excerpt is to provide some unique insight into how effective ergonomics can be when utilized with a ’Big-Picture-Thinking’ perspective:

David, a 42-year-old chief financial officer for a well-known venture capital group in San Francisco, continued to complain to his medical doctor that almost everything he did at his workplace caused him discomfort in the neck, eyes, wrists, and low back throughout the workday, especially the prolonged periods of sitting. Unfortunately, it was beginning to affect his social life. His physician, who specialized in work-related injuries and illnesses, referred him to my ergonomics-consulting firm and four treatments with a doctor of chiropractic. As it turned out, after a thorough evaluation of the office, desk and chair, computer workstation and accessories, as well as observing him interact with some of the most frequently performed task activities, the solution was quite simple. It required some minor rearranging of his computer furniture, as well as teaching him how to move more efficiently while keyboarding and mousing. A new ergonomic chair, sit-stand workstation (to be used in 30 minute sessions), and keyboard tray were also recommended and implemented. After two months, he reported to his doctor that nearly all of the symptoms were gone and that his social life was back in the groove. Furthermore, OccuCom was retained to help the remainder of the company’s workforce of 30 employees.

As this success story reveals, cooperation between health service providers, ergonomists, employers, and, of course, patients can maximize the benefits of the ergonomics process. After all, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, musculoskeletal disorders, as mentioned previously, are the most prevalent, most expensive and most preventable injuries in the American workplace today. This is particularly apparent as computer usage has increased to an estimated half of the 120 million workers.

Course by Chuck Sherrod, Professor and Ergonomist, DC, MPH, CIE

ERGO-207 Armrests: How Low Can You Go? Helpful Advice for Armrest Users

Don’t chairs just look great with big, luxurious armrests? What king would not want oversized, ornate armrests for his throne? As good as they may look, and as much as your garden variety king may find them imperative to maintaining his rule, they are Kryptonite to computer users.

In my 15+ years of experience in ergonomics and human factors, I have frequently run into the following postural issues and symptoms, most of which were directly related to overuse or inappropriate positioning of armrests:

Tingling and/or numbness in the ring and pinky fingers caused by compression of the ulnar nerve in the elbow;

An inability to sit close to the mouse and keyboard due to the chair armrests hitting the front edge of a keyboard tray or work surface;

The need to repetitively reach awkwardly over an elevated chair armrest to access the mouse, placing the arm in a posture which may invite eventual discomfort;

These are common results of spending long hours on a computer in a chair with armrests that impede the use of low-risk postures. For heavy computer users, it is vital that the chair armrests be adjusted below the user’s seated elbow height. If this cannot occur, the armrests should be removed from the chair entirely. If removing the armrests is not possible, an alternative chair should be procured if an individual uses the computer for a significant percentage of the workday.

Why are chair arms necessary at all? They may give an individual the perception of seated stability, or even really help someone avoid falling out of the chair. Furthermore, chair arms can be used during short periods of non-computer activity, such as talking on the phone or speaking with someone in the office. As long as the use of chair arms is not of extensive duration or frequency throughout the day (as would be the case if someone were leaning on them during heavy periods of computer use), their use should not pose a significant overall risk. But the myriad of risk factors associated with leaning on armrests increase in potential severity over time as the duration of this posture increases. So avoid the royal temptation - be a king on the chessboard, not in the office!

Course by Dan Shafer, Occupational Therapist, Founder, VocSolution

ERGO-209 Alternatives to a Sit/Stand Workstation

If budgetary or logistical constraints prevent you from purchasing a sit/stand workstation, or you just don’t prefer to stand while working, don’t fret. There are many ways to incorporate beneficial movement into your day without one.

Are there risks associated with prolonged standing?

Working in a prolonged standing position can be a contributing factor to sore feet, swelling of the legs, varicose veins, general muscular fatigue, low back pain, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, and other issues (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety). In addition to varying one’s position by incorporating occasional standing, experts recommend frequent breaks to take short walks. The human body was designed for frequent movement; when walking, the weight is shifted and the muscles are contracting, keeping the blood flowing during movement. (Cornell University).

Here are some good alternatives to using a sit/stand workstation:

• Have walking meetings. Outside if possible. Your coworkers will appreciate the break. Also, schedule room-based meetings further from your cube to encourage movement.
• Walk and talk. When you take a phone call, stand up and pace or go for a stroll. Use a hands-free solution for even greater mobility.
• Stand up when a coworker walks over to your cube. Having a standing conversation will reduce the height disparity during a conversation vs. remaining seated, and will give you a nice break from prolonged sitting.
• Use a break reminder to remind yourself to take breaks and perform frequent stretches. Consider using a timer on your phone or break software to encourage you to take more regular breaks. Moving and stretching regularly can be more healthy and valuable than static standing.
• Drink a lot of water. This in healthy in and of itself – and it will encourage you to get up to refill your water bottle with regularity. Plus, the increased restroom trips are a bonus.
• Use the gym. A regular workout won’t replace the specific benefits of frequent short breaks through the day, but it will increase muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness – both important parts of maintaining overall health in an increasingly sedentary world.
• When sitting, sit properly. A good supportive chair is essential whether you have a sit/stand workstation or not. Make sure to sit all the way back in the chair and that the chair is properly adjusted. Since research indicates that static standing should comprise no more than 25% of an 8-hour shift, ensuring that the majority of the workday is spent in an adjustable and well-fitting chair is critical.

Course by Dan Shafer, Occupational Therapist, Founder, VocSolution