Having great posture in 2007

A workers posture can either be good, poor or awkward. It is not always the choice of the employee to have an awkward posture, but can be because of their environment or tools.

Poor posture has a big impact on the muscles. If you are holding the correct posture when performing a task, you will be optimizing the way your muscles work together to create your movement. The blood supply will be plentiful to the muscles being worked, and risk of fatigue is minimal within reason.

When you have poor posture, the large and small muscles are unable to function in the order and way they prefer. Muscles begin overcompensating for each other and the extra strain causes certain fatigue. Correct posture means that the larger, stronger, more enduring muscles take the majority of the work, and the smaller ones merely assist. With incorrect posture the smaller muscles sometimes have to do all the work and blood supplies are impinged on resulting in continuous fatigue.

Any movement or action when repeated or prolonged whilst in an awkward posture can easily cause problems in referring areas of the body. If you reach, twist, bend, lift up, crouch, tightly grip or hold something in place for a length of time, you must assess carefully the following:

· How often do you feel your muscles are fatigued from the work?

· Do you have difficulty holding the position for the time you are required?

· Do you begin to have shaking muscles?

· Do you get weaker as the day progresses?

· Do you feel stiff the day after working?

If you answer yes to any of the above, it is important you take a look at your procedures. These signs and symptoms may be temporary now, but in the future could result in much bigger health problems. Anything worth fixing is worth fixing today so you don’t cause any more damage than necessary to the only body you have.

Look at whether you are trying to do anything outside of what is required of you. If you are not then address how often you take and are allowed to take breaks? Do you alternate between heavy lifting tasks and lighter easier ones? Do you ensure there is always enough room for you to do what you need? Have you been trained correctly? What is the maximum you are expected to lift before seeking assistance?

Approach you manager with what you have noted, and discuss possible solutions and outcomes to make everyone healthier and happier. Explain the physical symptoms you have been having and express your concerns that others may also be affected by it. Be willing to work together to find better ways to do your job.