Ergonomics & Resilience Workshop

Healthcube recently had the opportunity to organise a three-hour workshop for a nursery where seven lovely and very different ladies work. We were immediately enthusiastic about this, as we set up Healthcube with the aim of tackling a particular person’s problem or complaint as efficiently as possible. To do this, we need input from various disciplines and the perspectives of different colleagues with different insights. In short, it promised to be an enjoyable, informative morning on a Friday in May.

The client’s main request was to improve ergonomics in the workplace and to ensure that staff experienced fewer physical complaints in the long term.

It is, of course, an oversimplification to think that simply by lifting correctly – as we often see demonstrated in pictures – and then applying this technique in our work, all physical complaints will suddenly disappear. It is also too simplistic to attribute all physical complaints to poor ergonomics or posture at work.

So how do we go about it? Given that there is so much to consider, we have tried to present the information in a way that is relevant to each employee’s current job and everyday reality, so that it can be applied directly in the workplace. We organised the workshop at their workplace and worked together to identify the challenges they face during their working day. This ranged from lifting children out of bed to how everyone eats, sleeps, moves, exercises and relaxes. We actually lay down in our sleeping positions and critically discussed why these might or might not be good postures. Did everyone have a good mattress and pillow? In a very practical way, we examined certain habits in each person and compared them with the theory. Naturally, there was no shortage of fun.

Depending on each person’s individual circumstances, you need to assess your current balance. You should then set realistic goals. After all, there’s no point in starting out by taking steps that are too big and trying to do everything at once. Continuing to make changes step by step, and striving for a better and healthier balance in your life, is the only sustainable approach. Whether it’s about exercise, energy, food and drink, your circadian rhythm, sleep, mental wellbeing, or tobacco and alcohol.

Taxation versus tax capacity

Getting enough exercise increases your physical capacity, meaning you can cope with greater physical demands. If you do have to perform a movement that isn’t ideal, you’ll be less likely to suffer a strain or lumbago. Not sitting in the same position for too long, maintaining an active posture and ensuring a good sleeping position are all factors that can have a huge impact on your physical resilience. Mental wellbeing is also a significant factor in determining whether or not you can cope with a particular (repetitive) strain. Imagine you’ve eaten a very greasy meal late at night whilst watching TV, probably whilst sitting in a less-than-ideal posture ;-). There’s a good chance you won’t sleep well and will feel tired the next morning. Then we tend to slouch more, have less energy, and even a slight awkward movement is more likely to cause your back to seize up. What’s more, we’re more likely to crave less healthy food… in short, it’s a vicious circle.

What are the benefits of being more active?

What is good posture?

Together, we looked at what extra strain a slumped posture can cause and how best to sit, stand and lie down in an active way. Together, we’ll learn how to use your deep stabilising muscles, combined with the correct pelvic tilt. This way, you’ll engage your deep muscles more during your daily activities, meaning you’ll need to do fewer exercises once this has become a habit. You’ll also place less strain on your passive structures (ligaments, vertebrae, joints, etc.). You can learn this from a physiotherapist or personal trainer.

Would you like to host a workshop at your company too?

Would you like to organise a workshop like this in your workplace? Please let us know. We’d be happy to work with you to design a workshop that provides your staff with practical tools they can use straight away to get started – both physically and mentally.

A major and reliable source for this presentation was https://www.gezondleven.be/