An ergonomic evaluation is done to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) from developing. MSDs are defined as disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, or spinal discs. They cause pain, numbness, and tingling in Palo Alto CA, which can interfere with one's ability to work.

What Is An Ergonomic Evaluation in Palo Alto CA? How Is It Performed?

Ergonomic evaluations aren't just for people working with computers! Anyone who performs repetitive tasks can benefit from an ergonomic evaluation. This includes office workers who spend most of the day sitting at a desk or standing at a counter, retail workers who may lift boxes for several hours a day, assembly line workers who use tools to perform their job duties, and many others. Patients who are pregnant may also benefit from a postural evaluation and recommendations for any changes they can make in their workplace to reduce any risk of injury to their baby and help facilitate an easier delivery.

Repetitive motions in certain areas of the body can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, or repetitive strain injuries. Ergonomic evaluations focus on evaluating risk factors that may contribute to these types of conditions. To learn more about ergonomic issues in the dental office, read this blog post on office ergonomics.

During the ergonomic evaluation, the patient describes their daily activities and how they use their workspace. The chiropractor will ask about the patient's posture when sitting, standing, and walking. The patient also discusses any issues they are having that are preventing them from being fully comfortable at work and how these problems affect their duties. Finally, the chiropractor may ask the patient to perform simple tasks while they watch to observe how they move their body. In some cases, the patient may be asked to complete a questionnaire to evaluate their overall physical comfort.

Potential ergonomic risks include holding a patient's hand for long periods of time, twisting the head to reach equipment, overextending the arms while writing on a chart, or hunching forward while using a computer. Throughout the evaluation, the chiropractor will suggest changes to help minimize strain on the body and prevent injury. These may include providing new braces with a smooth inner surface, using a pen grip instead of pens that can be held between the fingers, or using wrist support while typing. Because this is an ongoing process, the ergonomics of the workspace will be monitored on an ongoing basis to help prevent future issues.

Ergonomic evaluations are an important part of any chiropractic practice. Signs of poor ergonomics in the office can include complaints of chronic headaches or neck or back pain, difficulty performing daily duties, or avoiding certain activities that involve using the hands or wrists. When any of these symptoms are present, it may be time for an evaluation to begin addressing the problem and preventing further injuries.

How Can An Ergonomic Evaluation Help?

An ergonomic evaluation is a fairly standard part of many jobs that involve spending long hours in front of a computer. This assessment will help you to figure out exactly how your body and eyes interact while working and what changes can be made in order to avoid eye strain and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

Computer vision syndrome is a chronic condition that results from staring at screens for long periods of time. Symptoms include eye strain, headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision, neck and back pain, and even trouble sleeping. The symptoms tend to get worse over time, so it's important to take steps to prevent them in the first place.

During the evaluation, you'll meet with a certified ergonomics consultant who will talk to you about the various ways you add input to your computer screen, as well as the patterns of your eyes as they scan the screen. Together you will work out the best position for you to work in, as well as steps you can take to make your workstation more ergonomically friendly.

Following the evaluation, your consultant will provide you with a report with recommendations so that you can adjust your workstation accordingly. These adjustments will include both physical adjustments to the desk and chair you use, as well as changes to your computer setup that will make it less stressful on your eyes. More commonly, these modifications involve the use of glasses or a headset to reduce glare and monitor distance, as well as proper lighting and positioning of key items on your computer workspace.