Unexpected Benefits of Posture Improvement | Ergonomics for Dental Professionals Read More »
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]]>- You will be able to breathe easier. When your spine and ribcage are in proper position, your chest wall can expand to its full potential. This will enable you to take a complete deep breath. It is nearly impossible to breathe fully when you are sitting in a slouched position.
- You will digest your food better. Poor posture compresses your abdomen and the organs inside. The trunk of your body needs to stretch in order to give the organs and muscles room to move, which in turn moves the food through the system. If your posture is very poor, it can eventually cause constipation.
- You will be in a better mood with less anxiety. Improved posture involves relaxing your neck and shoulders, easing tension. This communicates a message of relaxation to our nervous system, assuring our body that we aren’t in a fight-or-flight situation.
- You will have more energy. Because improved posture will allow you to breathe better, more oxygen will flow to the organs throughout your body. Better blood and oxygen flow translates to more energy for your body.
- You will have fewer headaches. Poor posture will compress the joints in your head and neck and cause tension in muscles. Head and neck tension are one of the most common causes of headaches.
- You will experience more confidence. Good posture is an anatomical sign that you are strong and in good health. A study found that when someone stands tall with good posture rather than slouched over, they are more likely to be judged as competent.
Proper posture provides so many more benefits than simply improving the health of your spine. Along with preventing injury and extending the life of your career, it will enhance your entire well-being. Set up an appointment today with ErgoFit Life to see how we can help you improve your strength and posture.
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]]>Use of Strength Training to Improve Posture | Dental Office Personal Trainer Read More »
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Strength training involves the use of your own body weight as resistance to build muscular tissue. It has a big impact on your overall health and wellness, which in turn impacts your quality of life. Poor posture can be attributed in part to muscle weakness. Eventually this leads to pain and injury, especially when working in the dental field where it is easy for your posture to be compromised. Poor posture also has an emotional impact, affecting your confidence and self-esteem. Strength training helps improve your posture in the following ways:
- Improves core strength: By strengthening and tightening your core (back and abdominal muscles), you can help to better support your spine making it easier to stand upright. Weak abdominal muscles can cause your pelvis to tilt forward, putting more strain on your upper back and neck. One of the best exercises to strengthen your core is the plank.
- Relieves back pressure: When your back is not properly aligned, there is a lot of stress placed on the joints. This can contribute to low back pain in particular. Strengthening the lower back can help put the spine into a more ideal alignment. Glute bridge exercises are excellent for improving lower back strength.
- Reverses poor positioning: In the dental world, many of us are hunched over the patient chair all day, or twisting and turning to one side. Obviously, these positions will have an effect on our posture over time. Strength training can help to undo the effects of poor positioning throughout the day. A good exercise to combat the hunched over position is an upper body “pull” exercise, such as a chin up.
- Builds shoulder muscles: When your shoulder muscles are weak, they have a tendency to rotate internally. Rotated shoulders are one of the major causes of poor posture. By strengthening your shoulder muscles, your neck and back will be better supported. Bent over row exercises are a good way to make the shoulders stronger.
Strength training is so important for your muscles and joints. Not only will it improve your posture, but also your overall mental and physical health. Proper posture will help you lengthen the life of your dental career. Contact us for a strength training consultation or posture analysis.
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]]>Preventing Pain at Work | Ergonomics for Dentists Read More »
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]]>After all, preventing one team member from experiencing an occupational injury or developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), it benefits everyone.
Causes of Pain
When it comes to pain in the workplace, we need to examine the common causes of injury. Many of our daily tasks involve repetitive movement, long spans of inactivity, and exertion – all of which can lead to occupational injuries and MSDs.
- Force – Lifting and or moving heavy objects, or reaching and straining from an awkward position – can cause injury
- Repetition – Repeating movements like twisting or rotating the spine, can injure your back
- Non-impact injury – Excessive physical effort including pushing, turning, holding, carrying, or throwing or repetitive motion like a microtask resulting in stress or strain on a part of the body due to a repetitive motion (typically without strenuous effort such as heavy lifting)
- Inactivity – Poor posture or sitting all day in a chair with inadequate back support or bad posture.
Prevent Problems Before They Arise
Pay attention to your posture. Our ergonomics specialist, Katrina Klein, shares that when you, or a team member, are standing, make sure to balance your weight evenly and take care not to slouch.
When sitting, adjust the height of your chair so that feet rest flat on the floor and your thighs are even, or slightly below your hips. Prevent extra pressure on your lower back by removing items from your back pockets when sitting.
Take frequent breaks and move your body when you have the chance. Stretching your back, neck, shoulders, hips, and hands frequently will help keep you limber and loose, making it less likely that you will develop pain.
Start off right with the proper equipment. From chairs and desks in the office, to the layout of instruments in your operatory, making sure that everything is in place and easily reachable from a relaxed position is a sure-fire way to prevent injury and pain in the workplace. Listen to your body (and your team). If you must sit for prolonged periods, change your position and stretch often. Encourage periodic walks around the office, or outside, to give your team time to get up, gently stretch, and relieve tension.
Want to learn more about creating an ergonomically sound workplace? Contact our ergonomics specialist in California us to find out how we can help you and your team work without the unnecessary risk of injury.
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]]>Setting Your Office Up for Success | Ergonomics for Dental Offices Read More »
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]]>Creating a comfortable environment for your team to work in will be rewarding in terms of quality of life, but countless experts agree it will also boost productivity.
How and Where are You Sitting?
Every member of your team, regardless of their role, will benefit from a proper, ergonomically designed work area.
Team members who work at the front desk are the first line of communication to your patients. Their health is critical as they work throughout the day completing tasks on the computer, answering the phone, and dealing with daily business-related tasks.
- Make sure that the computer monitor is an arm’s length away, their head is level, and they are not looking down or up for long periods of time.
- Encourage team members to keep their wrists straight, with hands at or below elbow level.
- Adjust chair height so knees are level to, or slightly below, the hips, and feet are flat on the ground.
- Provide desks that allow room for knees and legs to move freely.
Treating patients
However you treat a patient, it is important to keep ergonomics in mind for everyone in your operatory. If standing for long periods of time, make sure team members have proper anti fatigue mats in place to help alleviate sore feet.
If sitting, make sure that all items are well within reach. Stretching, twisting, or straining to reach instruments or other items can increase the risk of injury.
Where Are You Looking?
If you have to lean over a patient, it is important to keep your head upright. Whether you are seated or standing, this is an important consideration as you work to make the operatory more ergonomically friendly.
Looking down at over a 20% declination angle for long periods of time can result in chronic pain. Adjust your loupes to accommodate this limitation, or acquire a new pair that will allow you to focus effectively, without compromising your neck.
Encourage Your Team to Report Pain
As you work with your team to create a comfortable, ergonomically correct, workplace, it is important that you take team members’ reports of any issues seriously. If there is a report of pain, it is important to listen and address the issue. If you are interested in taking an ergonomics course, contact Katrina Klein.
Showing your team that you take their pain seriously will help increase overall morale, as will the efforts you make to ensure that their work areas are designed with their health in mind.
Do you have questions about setting up a new space or renovating your current office? Contact our ergonomics specialist in California today to find out how ergonomics can better your team’s health and productivity.
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]]>5 Ergonomic Tips for Medical Professionals | Dental Office Personal Trainer Read More »
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]]>In order to avoid these painful limitations, we’ve put together a list of ergonomic tips to help you and your team stay healthy, happy, and growing. If you would like to take an ergonomics course, contact our ergonomics expert in California.
Stretch and Stretch Again
As you approach a busy day, make sure that you and your team take the time to get up and move. Short breaks, combined with stretching can help to mitigate the risks associated with working in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.
Address problem areas with regular stretching of the neck, shoulders, hips, back, and hands.
Avoid Neck Pain
Long periods of leaning over patients, stretching to reach tough places, or staring at a computer screen can put your neck in an unnatural position. This strain can wind up being the cause of a number of physical issues, but you can help yourself, and your team avoid them with some simple steps…
- Sit up straight with your head over your shoulders
- Keep your shoulders over your hips, with the hips resting higher than your knees in your chair
- Adjust your chair to support your back and allow your feet to rest flat on the floor
- Make sure your loupes are set to the proper declination angle (leaning the neck forward 20 degrees or more while working puts you at risk for developing neck pain)
Is That Back Pain Serious?
Sitting up straight and limiting reaching, twisting, or straining from a seated position will help alleviate any problems you may already have. Even better, if you are not experiencing any pain, these changes can help you avoid injury.
Chronic pain can be a sign of serious issues and should not be ignored. While most back pain improves with self-care and rest, obey any serious warning signs. If symptoms are severe, last more than a few weeks, and don’t improve with rest, you’ll want to seek treatment.
If you experience pain that moves down into the legs (especially below the knee), or there is weakness or numbness in the legs, call your doctor for an evaluation as soon as possible.
Be Kind to Your Hands and Wrists
An often overlooked, yet critical component to workplace health is the hands and wrists. They are the key to working with patients and we must take care to limit the risk of injury.
Fitted gloves can make a big difference when it comes to the health of your hands. The compression and restriction from an ill-fitting, ambidextrous glove alone can cause pain at the end of a long day.
Also, take care to…
- Alternate the tools you use throughout the day (switching from thicker to thinner, heavier to lighter, etc)
- Use powered instruments with the appropriate prophy angle
- Take short stretch breaks between patients
Keep a list of appropriate stretches handy for all team members. Posting this information and allowing for time in the schedule for stretch breaks throughout the day will help boost health, morale, and productivity.
Lead by example, encouraging good habits as you go. Think of posture, overall ergonomic design of the office, and pattern your behavior to show that you’ve got your team’s health in mind too.
If you’ve got questions, we have answers. Contact our ergonomics specialist in California today to learn more about ergonomic strategies that you can use to improve your own comfort and theirs!
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]]>Why You Should Consider Ergonomics in Your Practice | Ergonomics California Read More »
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Taking the health and well-being of your team members seriously is important. Creating an ergonomically comfortable environment while modeling proper posture and regular stretching routines will help with overall morale while building a healthy, more productive practice.
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that repeated use injuries and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) accounted for 30% of worker injuries as well as illness cases in 2018. Of those cases, the days missed from work was 12 for the year on average.
If you can avoid the strain and create a well-thought-out environment, experts agree that you will see a difference in the quality of work and an overall increase in productivity.
Protect the Team
It takes a commitment from the entire team to sustain an ergonomically correct environment. From the doctor or practice owner, down through each staff member, everyone needs to be on the same page.
It starts with an open discussion with the team about their challenges. Set clear goals to improve the ergonomic issues that they identify. Then, management should define goals and objectives for progress, assign responsibilities to designated staff members, and communicate each step.
Identify Hazards
A critical step in the assessment process is to identify ergonomic issues in the workspace before they can result in an injury or MSD. If a team member has to repeatedly stretch, twist, or strain, an injury could follow.
When considering the ergonomics of your office, make sure that desks, tables, and chairs are at an appropriate height. Whether they are treating a patient, or answering the phone, setting your team up for success will pay off in the long term.
Involve Team Members
Make sure each member of your team is directly involved in worksite assessments. Have them help develop the solutions and work together on the implementation. Having everyone contribute to the ergonomic design of their environment will ultimately result in a happier, healthier office.
Encourage Reporting of Injuries
Some people flinch at the idea of telling their co-workers that they are in pain, but early reporting helps to prevent or reduce MSDs, serious injury, and time lost. Early reporting will also help accelerate the assessment and ergonomic improvement process – which benefits everyone.
Evaluate Progress
Measurement is key to improvement. Keep track of the changes you’ve made in your office and operatories to periodically assess the effectiveness of your ergonomic efforts. Are your team members seeing and feeling a difference from the changes? Are instruments in their proper place and no more than an arm’s length away?
Limit repetitive motion like straining or stretching to reach items, wherever possible and, make sure that you include time each day for everyone to move around and stretch regularly. While they don’t seem like big changes, making these ergonomic adjustments will bear fruit for you and your team in the long run.
Contact our ergonomics specialist in California today to learn more about the ergonomic strategies you can implement in your practice and create a place where everyone can work comfortably.
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]]>Why Ergonomics is Worth the Investment | Ergonomics for Dental Practices Read More »
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]]>Ergonomics improves productivity.
When a job is designed to facilitate good posture, fewer motions and better heights/reaches, your workspace and your workers become more efficient. They spend less time being uncomfortable and getting the things they need in exchange for more time spent doing the job.
Ergonomics improves the quality of work.
Poor ergonomics leaves employees feeling fatigued and even frustrated. Workers under these conditions will often not perform their best work. Conversely, proper ergonomics ensures that everyone is happy and doing a great job.
Ergonomics shows you care.
When a company is dedicated to providing their employees with a comfortable work environment, people tend to notice. This care results in employees feeling less fatigue and discomfort during their workday which in turn can decrease absenteeism, turnover, improve morale and increase employee engagement.
In short, the investment in proper ergonomics pays for itself in a myriad of ways. Not only is the process of creating good ergonomics beneficial for your business, but it’s great for you people too. As healthcare providers, supporting our people is always a top priority. If you’re interested in gaining the benefits of great ergonomics for your own practice, contact our ergonomics specialist in California today.
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]]>Extend Your Career With These Five Daily Stretches | Ergonomics in California Read More »
The post Extend Your Career With These Five Daily Stretches | Ergonomics in California appeared first on Ergo Fit Life.
]]>1.) Classic Hamstring Stretch
Sometimes the classics are still the best. With your feet shoulder width apart, bend down to try and reach your toes. Remember to keep a strong back, and feel the stretch in your hamstrings and glutes. Don’t worry if you can’t go all the way down, just feel comfortable and remember to breathe throughout.
2.) Door Frame Chest Stretch
If you find yourself hunching throughout the day with rounded shoulders, the door frame chest stretch is a great way to open up the chest and alleviate shoulder impingement. To perform the stretch, simply place your flat palm on the edge of a door frame. Slowly lean forward and turn your torso away from your outstretched arm until you feel the stretch. Hold this pose for 30 seconds or longer on each side.
3.) Cat/Cow
The middle area of your spine is known as the thoracic area. To improve flexibility in this area, you’ll want to do a classic cat/cow stretch. On your hands and knees, inhale, allowing your stomach to drop towards the ground as you lift your chest high. As you exhale, imagine bringing your belly button towards your spine, allowing your back to round. Move between the two movements for as long as you’d like, holding each position for a few seconds.
4.) Pigeon Pose
If you’ve ever done any yoga, you may already be familiar with this pose. Slide down to the ground and move your right leg forward in front of your chest, bending your knee to a 45 degree angle. Your left leg should be extended behind you with both feet flat on the floor. Try to slowly bend forward, reaching for your front knee with your chest. This should be a comfortable stretch, so don’t overdo it. Repeat the pose on the other side, holding for 30 seconds or longer each time.
5.) Standing Calf Stretch
The calves can often get overlooked, but it’s important to keep them loose. With your feet staggered, keep your back leg straight as you bend your front knee. Next, place your hands against a wall and lean forward until you feel a stretch down your back leg. You can adjust your feet until you feel a comfortable stretch.
Do this stretching routine every day to maintain flexibility and mobility. If you’re interested in learning other ways to stay fit on the job, contact our ergonomics specialist today. We can help you stay active and healthy throughout your dental career.
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]]>Ergonomic Tips for the Workplace | Ergonomics Near Me Read More »
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]]>1.) Keep your posture perfect. Make sure your body is centered and your thighs are horizontal with your knees. Find a position that is comfortable and remember to stay active when you can. Recent studies have shown that saddle style stools are a great aid for dental professionals, as they provide many positive impacts for the musculoskeletal system.
2.) Place items you regularly use close to your body. This helps you avoid unnecessary stretching throughout the day and can also help with maintaining posture.
3.) If much of your day is spent on the phone, a headset can make a world of difference. Cradling a phone between your head and neck can cause unnecessary strain and discomfort.
4.) Reduce hand pain and numbness by keeping your wrists in a neutral position and avoid excessive gripping. Your hands are the most important tool you have. Make sure you treat them well to keep up excellent condition.
5.) Ensure that both the patient and your adjustable lights are in a position that limits the strain on your neck. If you find yourself having to bend or lean towards the patient, adjust positions.
With these tips in mind, you can become more conscious of the daily routines that may be causing you pain and prevent them. For expert guidance on better ergonomics, contact our ergonomics specialist today.
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]]>Will The Real Ergo Consultants Please Stand Up? | Dental Office Personal Trainer Read More »
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]]>Here’s why: Ergonomics in dentistry is about how the body moves in relation to the work environment and demand of the duties therein. It takes more than an Instagram page and a website to be a consultant.
“I say I am, therefore I am” doesn’t apply here.
I’ve known PhD’s that couldn’t find their way out of a common sense lined paper bag, so education isn’t everything. BUT there is a minimum level of education required. A CEAS – Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist certification WITH some sort of degree/certification related to bio-mechanics (Physical Therapy, Personal Training, Kinesiology, etc). Without both, it’s no different than me building my business online and calling myself a Marketer. Have I marketed for myself? Yes. Does that make me a qualified marketer that people should pay to market their business? Absolutely not.
Next, chairside experience. Unless they’ve personally battled the lip, cheek or tongue while successfully prepping a crown with beautiful sealed margins on #18 or removed tenacious calculus from an 8mm pocket on the distal buccal of #15 without direct vision on a patient that “can’t lay back”, they CANNOT have a true understanding of what we go through. At that point it’s theory and no, “my sister is a hygienist and I’ve watched her a lot” doesn’t count. You want someone who has been in the trenches and has lived your struggles.
Experience. Not just in the mouth, but with bio-mechanics. They need to have a thorough and practical application of the way the body works both in proper function AND in dysfunction to know how to fix other people’s bio-mechanical issues. They needs to have seen/experienced what it means to achieve symmetry in the body, felt (first hand) the results of body manipulation through their chosen modality so they can effectively describe and teach it to others. They need to understand joint actions and the kinetic chains that create neutral posture and how that is undone by dentistry.
Availability. In-person assessments are significantly higher quality due to the nature of being in the room of the person being assessed. Feeling the actual space, seeing things from all angles, being able to physically move an arm, etc. There is so much more to be observed in-person than through a screen. While virtual makes assessments more accessible – especially for global friends, it is limited in what can be seen and therefore in results. Is it better than nothing at all? Sure, if the person is experienced they can still provide a lot of help. I’d compare it to a PE teacher trying to teach table tennis through zoom. It can be done but shouldn’t be first choice. If they’re really pushing virtual instead of in-person assessments… that may be a sign.
If I’m buying the only ergo assessment I’m probably ever going to buy in my career, I want the coach standing right next to me, able to see EVERYTHING, to give me the most value for what I’m paying for (unless I live on top of a mountain that requires 4 plane stops, 2 trains and a helicopter to get them to me).
Testimony. Proven correction of pain relief for dental professionals. Ideas, education and enthusiasm are great, but have you successfully driven that boat before? We all have to start at the bottom and crawl before we walk. Dentists give away a lot of dentistry before they successfully pull off $50k cases. It’s called paying dues. I’ve done more free ergo assessments than I can count so that I could hone my skills. My first assessments don’t hold a candle to what I can do now for people but I am glad I did the ground work because I’ve got testimony for days of the people I’ve helped. Make sure there are people who will vouch for the results of whomever you hire because results are what you’re paying for (both immediate and long term).
Now you know what a qualified and quality Dental Ergonomics Specialist looks like (besides me!) and confidently purchase an assessment to help reduce your workplace pain today!
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