Ergonomic Exercises

Ergonomic exercises are exercises that are done at the workstation during the day with the aim to prevent injuries to the body. Changing your posture throughout the day is important in preventing injuries and the build up of tightness and stiffness in joints and muscles. It is also important to try to stand up throughout the day. When we sit the load on our lumbar spine (lower back is increased), therefore giving your lower back a break is crucial.

Common areas that should be stretched / or exercised throughout the day include

• Back
• Neck
• Eyes
• Wrist and hands

It is difficult to maintain a good posture throughout the day, and often a combination of long working hours and fatigue you can often find yourself in bad postures such as rounded shoulders, slumping over the desk, leaning on your elbows and overreaching for the mouse and the phone.

Common injuries that can be caused by not stretching or doing some ergonomics exercises can include eye strain from looking at the computer for too long, headaches, stiff and tight neck and shoulders, stiffness through the upper back and pain and stiffness in the lower back.

Stretches or ergonomic exercises should never cause you pain. These should be done throughout the day during your rest breaks.

Ergoworks Physiotherapists and Consultants can tailor an ergonomic exercise program that aims at stretching muscles to minimise injuries.