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. |
