Ergonomic exercises help prevent pain and injuries caused by prolonged sitting or repetitive movements. They can be as simple as stretching or taking micro breaks, or can involve special furniture and tools. Employers may mandate these exercises for worker safety.
Ergonomic exercises are movements designed to maximize the amount of productive time a person can endure while in a relatively confined space. Most ergonomic exercises are simple muscle-activating movements that many people forget about while working out for long periods of time. Sometimes an exercise can be as simple as stretching or taking a break. Other exercises include special furniture or more complex tools. For many people, ergonomic exercises can minimize pain at the end of a work day and prevent repetitive strain injuries.
The most basic type of ergonomic exercise is stretching. When a person is concentrating on a task, it becomes easy to miss a gradual buildup of pain in the muscles that need to be moved. The stretch does not need to be athletic in nature and can be as simple as turning your head, raising your arms, or standing up from a seated position. It is always a good idea to take a moment to stand up and feel which parts of the body are most affected. This can promote alertness and combat pain.
There is specially designed furniture that incorporates exercise into the entire workday. Chairs designed for active sitting, for example, won’t feel like exercise, but they will keep your body from falling into an unhealthy position. Chairs and desks that keep muscles alert and moving reduce the need for ergonomic exercise for the muscles, but not for the mind or eyes.
Many people who work with computers don’t realize the strain computers put on their eyes or hands. Covering your eyes is considered a form of ergonomic exercise, but it’s more aptly called a break. Micro breaks spaced throughout a work day can accomplish all the ergonomic exercises needed in less than a minute, allowing a person to stretch, rest their eyes, and breathe deeply.
Ergonomic exercises are also useful for factory settings and other work environments. Sometimes these exercises need to be tailored to the job at hand. When combined with proper work habits, these exercises can help prevent injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or more immediate injuries like back strain.
Some offices schedule group ergonomic exercises to ensure workers are not injured. In factories where alertness and physical dexterity are essential to worker safety, ergonomic exercises are often mandated by the company and regularly applied by supervisors. Since this type of exercise doesn’t interrupt a workday, employers generally aren’t averse to individual employees wanting to take micro breaks or stretches. The benefits of ergonomic exercise far outweigh the momentary loss of productivity by any measure.
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