By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Getting Back in the Game: Sports Injuries Rehabilitation Tips
    May 31, 2023
    4 Signs It’s Time to See a Therapist
    May 24, 2023
    11 Ways To Modernize Your Private Practice
    May 17, 2023
    How to Recognize the Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Men
    May 29, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Employers as Doctors
    July 9, 2011
    Pushback On My Medicare Proposals
    August 12, 2011
    America Has A Health Care Paradox
    June 17, 2012
    Latest News
    MRI Sedation Options: What You Should Know Before Screening
    May 17, 2023
    What is the Process of Creating Medicine from Nature?
    May 2, 2023
    Choosing the Right Treatment Option for Varicose Veins
    May 2, 2023
    What Are Wrong-Site Surgeries and How Do They Occur?
    April 27, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: When The Doctor Is Hurting: Ergonomic Solutions For Medical Professionals
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > When The Doctor Is Hurting: Ergonomic Solutions For Medical Professionals
Hospital Administration

When The Doctor Is Hurting: Ergonomic Solutions For Medical Professionals

Larry Alton
Last updated: 2019/04/14 at 11:39 AM
Larry Alton
Share
6 Min Read
When The Doctor Is Hurting: Ergonomic Solutions For Medical Professionals
SHARE

 

Contents
A Twist On Text NeckImprovements In The OfficeSit Up SmarterAlways Adjusting

Doctors and nurses have an unusually high rate of workplace injuries, with those who work in hospitals at particular risk. In fact, according to OSHA statistics, since 2001 hospital staff have experienced injury and illness rates greater than both manufacturing and construction and well above the national average. Making ergonomic adjustments to the work environment, however, could help reduce these numbers.

A Twist On Text Neck

One of the most common forms of pain among modern Americans is something professionals have come to call “text neck” – neck pain associated with bending over our cell phones. This posture increases strain on the spine and can eventually cause permanent changes to the cervical spine. And while doctors may not suffer from text neck from excessive texting, there are plenty of tasks in the profession that can cause similar problems.

Consider, for example, the position of the head during many surgical procedures. As more surgeries move from open procedures to a laparoscopic approach, surgeons are increasingly likely to maintain a flexed neck posture similar to that of looking at a cell phone. This can cause severe pain and even prevent some physicians from being able to operate. Changing the positioning of screens and lenses and adjusting the length of tools could help reduce strain on the neck and even minimize painful fixed postures during these procedures.

More Read

employee's wellness

How Hospitals and Other Healthcare Providers Can Boost Employee Morale

What are the Benefits of Hospitals and Clinics Using Expense Management Services?
Tips to Keep Health Workers Safe in the Workplace
9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives
Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers

Improvements In The Office

When a patient comes to the office complaining of neck and back pain, doctors are likely to ask about their work environment – the height of the desk, the kind of chair the individual sits in, and other ergonomics-related questions. But do doctors follow their own advice? In short, no.

Doctors should consider their office furniture carefully to ensure that it serves both form and function and some basic rules can help. Formal offices for patient meetings should be posture-friendly and stylish; consider a low table with slipper chairs. This combination discourages slouching and leaning since there’s no table to hide behind. And because slipper chairs have short legs and high backs, they encourage people to put their feet on the ground and sit up straight.

In more functional spaces, including at exam-room workstations, adjustability should be the rule. Many different people move through these terminals, including nurses and technicians. Height-adjustable workstations make it easier for everyone to comfortably use these computers, while keeping the monitor at eye level and arms parallel to the floor. Placing a small footrest beneath the terminal can also improve posture and reduce back pain by allowing users to shift their weight while working.

Sit Up Smarter

If you look around any startup’s office, you’ll notice a variety of unusual chairs – from balance balls to stools on springs – and medical offices and hospitals could benefit from these unusual pieces of furniture. That’s because these chairs are designed for active sitting, which means they force the user to engage their core to stay upright and stable.

In addition to improving your posture, some people also find that active sitting improves their focus and productivity. That’s because sitting for long periods of time can cause slow circulation and impede mental clarity. And from a medical standpoint, active sitting is a way that doctors can lead patients by example. Sitting too much is associated with an increased risk of premature death and many modern diseases such as obesity and chronic pain have been grouped together as “sitting diseases.” In other words, they didn’t happen when we led more active lifestyles.

Always Adjusting

Ultimately, the best thing doctors can do to make the workplace more ergonomic is to allow for constant adjustment and that means changing the desk height, moving from sitting to standing, and taking time out of the day to stretch. Simple exercises like shoulder squeezes, chin tucks, and abdominal pull-ins can all improve posture and core muscle strength, reduce back pain, and help keep you feeling energized throughout the day. While compared to many modern jobs, being a doctor is hardly sedentary, it can certainly have a similar negative impact on the body.

As the old saying goes, we teach what we most need to learn, and that certainly applies to doctors and healthy work practices. So next time you find yourself advising a patient on back pain or how to set up their workspace, take a second and assess your own. Are you sitting up straight? Does your office model what you’re telling them? When doctors don’t practice what we preach, how can we expect patients to take us seriously?

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Larry Alton July 3, 2018
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Basic Tips For Getting In Shape Much Quicker
Next Article The amazing benefits of talking therapy and how you can help

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

medical bills
Who is Responsible for Paying the Medical Bills After an Injury?
News June 1, 2023
sports injury rehabilitation
Getting Back in the Game: Sports Injuries Rehabilitation Tips
Health May 31, 2023
brush your day
How Many Times A Day Should You Brush Your Teeth?
Dental health May 29, 2023
Chiropractic Laser Therapy: A Beacon of Hope for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Chiropractic Laser Therapy: A Beacon of Hope for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Therapies May 29, 2023

You Might also Like

Types of Remote Access Solutions for Hospitals
Medicare

Types of Remote Access Solutions for Hospitals

April 27, 2023
get a career in medical device sales
Medicare

What Are the Benefits of Attending Medical Sales College?

April 10, 2023
subscription based telemedicine
Hospital Administration

Subscription Management Solutions Are Crucial for Telemedicine

April 5, 2023
patient's well-being
Hospital Administration

Comfort And Safety: 7 Ways Healthcare Organizations Can Create A Better Environment For Their Patients

April 4, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?