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 promises to be an enjoyable and 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, too simplistic to think that simply by lifting correctly – as we often see demonstrated in pictures – we can apply this technique at work and that our physical complaints will simply disappear as a result. It is also too simplistic to attribute all physical complaints to poor ergonomics or posture at work.

How do we get started? Given that there is so much to take on board, we have tried to present the information in a way that is relevant to their current job, so that they can apply it directly in the workplace. We organised the workshop in their workplace and worked together to identify the challenges they face during their work. 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 everyone and compared these with the theory.

Start by seeking the right balance for your life at that moment. Depending on each person’s individual circumstances, you need to assess your situation and then set realistic goals. After all, there’s no point in taking steps that are too big or 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 way forward. 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 similar injury. Avoiding 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 resilience. Mental wellbeing is also a significant factor in determining whether or not you can cope with a particular (repetitive) physical strain. Imagine you’ve eaten a very greasy meal too late in the evening whilst watching TV; there’s a good chance you won’t have slept well and will be tired the following morning, slouching more, feeling less energetic, and then making a wrong movement that causes your back to seize up.

What are the benefits of being more active?

What is good posture?

Together, we’ll look at the extra strain that 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.

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 enables your staff to get straight to work – both physically and mentally.

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