Managing Workplace Discomfort

Condition

Probable Cause

How to Correct

1. Neck tension, tightness, upper back and shoulder discomfort.
1a. Head is too far forward during reading, writing, or viewing the VDT screen 1a. Elevate work surface, reading materials, and VDT screen so as to keep the head and trunk relationship more vertical
1b. Hands and arms not supported while typing, inputting data, writing or using hands in manipulating or holding work. 1b. For typing tasks, adjust the armrests to the correct height and angle to support the weight of the arms and use palm rest or wrist rest.
1c. Head is too far back during reading, writing or viewing VDT screen. 1c. tilt the seat and backrest forward so as to keep the head and trunk relationships more vertical.
1e. Head and neck are tilted in a lateral direction holding the telephone between the shoulder and ear. 1e. Use headset.
2. Hand, wrist and lower arm discomfort.
2a. The wrist is deviated in an unnatural position. 2a. Set the keyboard and/or calculator to produce a neutral wrist position.
2b. Excessive application of force to keys. 2b. Reduce excessive force through training and practice
3. Lower back pain discomfort.
3a. Lumbar curvature is not being maintained and supported. 3a. Bring backrest in further horizontally through in and out adjustment or tilting forward, and/or changing lumbar curvature via inflatable lumbar adjustment (if equipped). The backrest should be placed just slightly above the pelvis to provide support in the lumbar region (lower back).
3b. Major thigh muscle is pulling on the spine because feet are dangling or unsupported. 3b. Lower chair and/or use footrest so that the feet are supporting the weight of the legs only. Backrest should be placed slightly above the pelvis to provide support in the lumbar region.
3c. Increased disc pressure due to vertebrae not having equidistant spacing. This results in stretching the muscle, tendon and ligament systems. 3c. Open up trunk/thigh angle towards the neutral position.
4. Buttocks discomfort. 4a. Sitting too far forward in the seat pan and not using the backrest. 4a. Open up the trunk/thigh angle towards the neutral position.
5. Thigh discomfort.
5a. Too much pressure on the thigh because chair is too high and legs are dangling. 5a. Lower chair height so that feet are supporting feet and lower legs only.
5b. Too much pressure on the the popliteal area (soft tissue behind the knee) from the seat pan. 5b. Sit forward in seat pan and adjust backrest forward.
6. Lower leg/foot discomfort.
6a. Too much pressure in the popliteal area (soft tissue behind the knee). Circulation is restricted to lower leg and feet, putting pressure on the nerves to lower legs and feet. 6a. Sit forward in seat pan and adjust backrest forward.
6b. Infrequent posture changes in the feet and lower legs and feet. 6b. Utilize a well designed footrest to promote movement and frequent posture changes.
© Jerome J. Congleton, Ph.D., P.E., C.P.E.