STANDING POSTURE ASSESSMENTS

ERGO CHECK focuses on teaching people how to sit properly, but what about people who have to stand all day at work?  We have something for you too!  All occupations have some sort of ergonomic problem, even if it is just because you do the same thing, day after day.  (Repetition is a BIG problem when it comes to ergonomic injuries.)  But people who stand at work have different problems from people who sit all day, and these problems can get worse and worse if you are wearing the wrong kind of shoes, and if you need orthotics or other inserts for your feet.

Standing places more pressure on the lower half of your body, especially your feet, ankles, knees and hips.  So for people who stand a lot during the day, we will focus on your foot and ankle anatomy and alignment, your footwear, and then of course the types of activities you need to do every day.  Dr. Shaw will teach you how to lift properly, how to maintain proper spinal curves, and how to protect your body from injuries related to the regular activities you need to do at work.

Nothing beats an individual assessment, so here are a few hints to let you know that you need some help:

a) Your feet ache (or worse!) at the end of the day.  Sorry, but it’s NOT normal to have sore feet at the end of the day!  You are either wearing the wrong type of shoes and/or you need orthotics or inserts.  (We can do an assessment and tell you what your problem is and how to correct it.)

b) Your hips and lower back feel stiff in the mornings.  Morning stiffness typically comes from the joints, and when your hips and lower back are sore in the morning, it is usually because they are taking unnecessary strain during the day (or there is some misalignment that needs to be addressed).  You need to do some stretching, and there are a few simple stretches that are excellent for people who have to stand a lot … we can show you how to do them safely within you abilities.

c) You can’t lift things without pain or discomfort somewhere.  If you hurt somewhere when you lift, or after you lift, you may have a problem that needs some therapy … listen to your body and get the treatments you need so you don’t end up causing permanent damage to yourself.  Once your body is feeling better, use the lifting techniques we have taught you and you should avoid many future lifting injuries.

Remember, all jobs have some sort of ergonomic problem, especially repetition, but you can take responsibility for how you stand, sit, and lift, and we can teach you how to do these things in the most ergonomically correct way!

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