Healing Hands Chiropractic Center Hebron Park Dr Hebron , KY 41048
Healing
If you’re not careful, slouching at a desk all day or tapping away at a computer keyboard can lead to painful and disabling strains in your wrists, shoulders, elbows, and back. Dr. Meade urges you to turn over a new leaf, and follow some simple advice that will make the year more enjoyable and less painful.
“We used to believe that occupations like construction caused most on-the-job injuries,” said Dr. Meade “However, someone who works at a computer is putting considerable stress on their wrists, shoulders, neck and spine, and this can cause some really painful work-place injuries.”
Repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, as more and more people spend long hours in front of a computer screen.
“Today, it’s not just the administrative assistant who uses a computer,” said Dr. Meade. “Most corporate executives spend theirCarpal tunnel syndrome alone affects approximately 230,000 people every year and accounts for nearly half of all workplace illnesses, costing the country nearly $800 million in health care benefits and rehabilitation. Other injuries include low back pain, postural and spinal stress, and tendinitis—conditions that can affect a person’s work, as well as make life painful.
To reduce the possibility of suffering one of these painful and possibly disabling injuries, Dr. Meade suggests:
4Make sure your chair fits correctly. There should be 2 inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of your knees. Ideally, the chair should tilt back so you can rest while you’re reading what’s on the screen.
4Sit with your knees at approximately a 90 to 120-degree angle. Using an angled foot rest to support your feet4Position your computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below eye level, with adequate lighting and no glare.
4Keep your wrists in the neutral position, not angled up or down, while you type. A wrist rest can help.
4Take periodic stretch breaks.
“If you do suffer from strains or injuries on the job, see a doctor of chiropractic,” urges Dr. Meade. ¨
BACKPACKS AND YOUR KIDS
Getting Back to School Can Be “Back Breaking” Work
Don’t let a Heavy Backpack
Ruin Your Child’s Day.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The American Chiropractic Association, its Council on Occupational Health, and Healing Hands Chiropractic Center offer the following tips to help prevent the needless pain an over stuffed backpack could cause the student in your household. And now that backpacks have begun to replace briefcases in the work place, you too might want to follow this advice:
/ Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. The backpack will cause your child to begin bending forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.
/ A backpack with individualized compartments will help you position the contents most effectively and ensure that your child’s sandwich isn't flattened by a heavy textbook.
/ When packing the backpack, make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on the child’s back. An uneven surface rubbing against your child’s back could cause painful blisters.
/ Tell your child to use both shoulder straps, not just one. A backpack slung over one shoulder disproportionately shifts all of the weight to one side, and can cause not only neck and muscle spasms, but also low back pain.
/ Padded shoulder straps are very important. Not only will they be more comfortable than non-padded straps, but they will also help prevent the straps from digging into your child’s shoulders.
/ The shoulder straps should be adjustable, so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. Shoulder straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably, and cause misalignment and pain.
/ If the backpack is still too heavy, talk with your child's teacher. It might be possible to leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter handout materials or work books.
/ Talk to your child about the proper use of backpacks and help him or her understand why this and other ergonomic issues are important. A child who is educated early in life on these issues can apply this knowledge late in life (at home or in the office) and as a result, your child will be happier and healthier.
Working together for the betterment of our children’s health
For More Information Call:
Healing
859-586-9777
