Manufacturers continue to place great emphasis on how products conform with the natural movement of the human body. Ergonomics is a growing consideration in work environments and home settings. Here are some suggestions for how you can incorporate healthy ergonomic habits into your daily life.
1. Customize Your Workspace
Whether you travel to your office or work in your home, your workspace is where you spend most of your day. Comfortable desks and chairs that conform to your body’s proportions are essential to maintain proper alignment and facilitate adequate blood flow. You should be able to cross your legs under desks and sit in chairs that support your lower back while keeping your feet flat on the floor.
2. Shift Handbags and Backpacks
If you carry a shoulder bag or backpack every day, make sure that you don’t overfill it or let all the weight accumulate in one area to avoid straining your muscles. Alternate shoulders on which you carry your bag to prevent neck strain and always wear backpacks on both shoulders for proper weight distribution. Using only one strap can lead to muscle strain and spine misalignment.
3. Learn How to Bend
When moving through your day, focus on efficiency rather than speed. Whether lifting heavy packages at work or picking up a towel from your bathroom floor, developing a habit of bending from your legs rather than your back, which should remain straight, will strengthen your leg muscles and prevent you from damaging your spine.
4. Adjust Your Perspective
Working on a computer all day can strain eye muscles and cause dryness. You can avoid compromising your vision by periodically looking up from your monitor to focus your eyes on something in the distance. Don’t forget to blink often.
5. Maintain Distance
Movement is an antidote for stiff joints and muscles. You can move continually throughout your day, even if you have a desk job. Keeping printers across the room from your desk, using stairs instead of elevators, or standing up for a few minutes every hour can keep your muscles and joints flexible.
6. Wear Appropriate Footwear
Wearing proper-fitting shoes with adequate arch support is one of the simplest ways to ensure your body’s correct alignment. Whether rushing down a busy street or strolling around your home, you need a supportive shoe to cushion the impact of your steps throughout your body and provide adequate balance.
By learning to move your body mindfully, you can reduce and improve your overall health. Contact a chiropractor, like a chiropractor from Lotus Wellness Center, today to get more information.