How to Prevent a Recordable Injury #6 - Keep Your Load Close to Your Body!

When you lift objects like boxes, remember to keep them close. A dirty shirt is better than a clean shirt when it comes to preventing a back injury. IF you lift objects and keep them away from your body, you are putting increased pressure on your arms and back. You do the math!

Lifting a 10lb. object away from your body = 100lb of pressure on your back

Lifting a 10lb object close to your body = 10lb of pressure on your back

Is Your Neck In Allignment?

Did you know the weight of your head is roughly 8% your body weight? This constitutes about 12 to 15 pounds that sits over your shoulders. The ideal posture that constitutes proper alignment is having your ears lined up with the top of your shoulder. Poor posture, as in a forward head, can lead to a long list of chronic conditions, all stemming from poor alignment or posture. A foreword head is causing your neck to work 3x harder than normal. Give your head a break and get back into alignment. Follow these simple tools through out your day to stay in alignment.

• Use a pillow or lumbar support if you sit for long periods of time for your work.
• Use a lumbar support or lean your seat forward in your car to avoid slouching and improve your safety awareness.
• Avoid large recliners when watching television as this promotes improper posture.
• Use a smaller pillow or roll to keep your neck straight or in neutral while sleeping.
• Avoid reading in bed, use a well let area with good seated posture.
• Avoid talking on the telephone for long periods of time or holding the phone with your shoulder.

On The Job - Risk Factors

Neutral Wrist

Neutral wrist positioning is center position between flexing and extending. Working in neutral wrist positioning can help avoid harmful conditions such as tendinitis, bursitis, and nerve entrapment. Repetitive bending and prolonged awkward wrist positions can cause cumulative trauma to the wrist and hand, sometimes causing long term weakness and numbness. So next time you are at work, remember to keep your wrists in neutral. If you cannot or need more direction in how to do so. Please contact your site therapist.