Why Does Everything Say “Ergonomic” And What Does It Mean?

Ergonomics  is a fancy term that basically means to “design the object/tool around the person”. The past shows that Cave Men designed tools around their abilities and now factories are designing machines to be more people friendly in order to minimize injuries. Ergonomics has become an important part of living an injury free life. 

As life continues to have more demands for productivity, this often leads to injuries. Many companies and individuals have looked at how to treat the injuries as well as how to prevent them in the first place. 

A common example of a work-related injury is carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand where most of the fingers become numb other than the small finger.  In many cases, receptive motions or direct pressure on the nerve contributes to this.

As an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, part of the job is to analyze the patient and take into account posture, medical diagnoses, and other factors that might put them at a higher risk for carpal tunnel. Another key part of the analysis is to break down their work/household/sports/hobby tasks. 

As we noted in carpal tunnel, we may look at the wrist position, posture, and the entire surroundings while typing. I would also look at their medical history and interview the patient. Once I have a clear understanding of the factors contributing to the tension, the next step is to develop a treatment plan through which may consist of nerve gliding/exercises, equipment recommendations and other strategies to reduce the risk of re-injury. Ultimately, the goal is to work closely with you to find a solution that not only treats the current injury you have but to also prevent future injuries. 

If you are interested in a FREE injury screening, click on the link below and write “injury screening” in the topic section. If you do not need an injury screening, but would like a FREE handout featuring tips on the proper form to use while working at a computer and common stretches to help with median nerve (carpal tunnel nerve) tension, click on the below link and type “ergonomic handout” in the topic section, and I will send you the handout for free.