Ergonomics and Los Angeles?

What does ergonomics have to do with Los Angeles? There are so many different types of businesses in Los Angeles.  In one building, you could have a law firm, a home health agency, and a company that installs gates. The city is so multi-cultural, a population so diverse in language, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity, that it is hard to make the claim that many people in Los Angeles will benefit from an ergonomic assessment.  Yet, there is something unique about Los Angeles and its relationship with ergonomics.

What is the connection between Los Angeles and Ergonomics?

The people of Los Angeles are diverse.  People come from different cultures and different socioeconomic backgrounds.  Yet, most of us are  unified in one sense – we spend many hours in sitting.  This is true for many of us who spend long hours sitting at our desks or in front of a computer at work.  For those commuting in Los Angeles, especially, the problem is magnified by the fact that we, on average, spend a significant amount of time sitting in cars and buses.  Angelinos spend an average of 90 hours a year stuck in traffic.  The congestion in Los Angeles is the highest in the entire United States – greater than New York, Washington, San Fransisco, Miami, and Portland.  Several researchers in 2015 reported that drivers in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Santa Ana will spend almost 7 months of their lives stuck in traffic.  This is just wasted time spent sitting in our cars.  These figure are in addition to the normal time it takes people to travel from their homes to their place of work without traffic.

With the increased time spent in sitting, comes a growing health concern.  First, researchers in ergonomics have found that people who spend an extended time in sitting are more at risk for obesity.  Second, scientists have found that people who spend an extended time in sitting – whether sitting in driving, in front of a TV, or in front of a computer – have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.  Those reporting sitting in a car for more than 10 hours a week had a 82% greater risk of mortality than those who spent 4 hours a week driving.

How can Ergonomics Advance and the Ergonomic Assessment help Los Angeles residents?

The team at Ergonomics Advance is here to help employees decrease the time they spend in sitting.   Whether its recommending the appropriate standing desk, devising ways to do more work in standing, or taking regular exercise breaks in standing, an ergonomic specialist at Ergonomics Advance can devise specific plans and make customized recommendations for your particular business.  We do exactly what ergonomics is – analyzing workstations and workplace behaviors and making specific recommendations to improve employee health, comfort, and wellness.  For employees in Los Angeles, especially those commuting long hours, ergonomic specialists performing an assessment will make recommendations that help increase the amount of time in standing and improve cardiovascular health.    It does not matter what Los Angeles industry you are in, whether working in a law firm or company that installs gates, an ergonomic assessment from Ergonomics Advance can help.

To find out more about Ergonomics in Los Angeles or if an ergonomic assessment is right for you, please feel free to contact us at:

(310) 467-5625
info@ergonomicsadvance.com
150 North Robertson Blvd. Suite #140
Beverly Hills, Ca 90211

Have you ever felt numbness or discomfort after typing or using the mouse for a long period of time? The discomfort can be annoying and sometimes even painful. Concentrating on your work, spending more than a few hours finishing a project, the tingling and numbness starts to kick in, affecting the wrist, fingers, and forearm.

Does typing or using the mouse cause carpal tunnel syndrome?

Researchers have debated about whether computer usage causes carpal tunnel syndrome for while now. For many years, it was a given: spending more than six to seven hours at a computer will cause CTS.  However, in the last few years, the belief that computer work causes carpal tunnel has come under criticism. Some in the medical profession argue that only repetitive, strenuous labors like working in the meatpacking or construction industry can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.  Using a computer is too light of an activity to cause CTS.  Recently, though, researchers from the Centre of Expertise for Health and Work Ability have concluded that excessive computer usage, especially using the mouse for long periods of time, can be a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.  

The Benefits of an Ergonomic Specialist

There are a variety of treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel can be treated surgically. A surgeon might cut a ligament around the carpal tunnel, opening up space and releasing some of that extra pressure placed on the median nerve.  A physical or occupational therapist can also treat CTS.  The therapist can help improve wrist and finger strength as well as decrease swelling before and after surgery. Ergonomics and working comfortably at ones work station is also part of the process. With the use of ergonomic equipment such as a adjustable keyboard tray, an ergonomist can give a client the equipment and the techniques necessary to place the wrist in a comfortable, neutral posture.  Ergonomics can help a person return to work after rehabilitating from carpal tunnel syndrome. Sensitive from the after effects of surgery or trying to prevent further pain at work, a ergonomist can provide ergonomic equipment and teach people recovering from CTS about proper wrist positions to sit and work comfortably, without aggravating old symptoms.  

Thanks for reading,

Shaul Lent CEAS, MA, OTR/L