In Time for Cyber Week, Haworth Sr. Corporate Ergonomist offers advice to avoid 'Tech Hunch'

USA - English

• USA - English

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Adobe Digital Index is predicting 2015 Cyber Week sales to hit a record $3 billion, and with nearly half of all U.S. employees shopping from work,* Haworth's senior corporate ergonomist offers prevention tips to help shoppers avoid injury tied to 'Tech Hunch.'

"Tech Hunch is a posture that happens when an individual's head is angled downward toward a mobile device or computer screen," explains Teresa A. Bellingar, Ph.D., CPE, at Haworth. "It's accompanied by raised shoulders and/or curling forward, causing back, neck and shoulder pain."

"Online users, especially millennials who have grown up with technology, spend hours in injury-laden postures using a device or screen," she said. "When you couple this with a concentrated period of Tech Hunch posture during Cyber Week, the result is cumulative injuries."

Good ergonomics practice, including these 5 tips, help prevent Tech Hunch on Cyber Week, or any day:

1. It's all about posture: When sitting, pull shoulders down and have a level gaze. Prop screen to eye level – use books if needed. Place feet flat on the floor, but feel free to move and shift your weight.
2. Feet up: Movement helps alleviate static postures, so try leaning back with feet propped up. This allows your head to be aligned with your spine. The weight of a human head is equivalent to a bowling ball – hanging forward for an extended time will negatively affect a variety of muscles.
3. Get up & move: Take breaks, throughout the day, every day. Recent news has labeled sitting as the new smoking, but it's about movement. Walk, get a glass of water. Go see the person you were going to call or email; even better to climb stairs.
4. Prop up: For lounge furniture, place pillows near your lower back. This improves posture – important for shorter individuals who can't comfortably reach the floor and chair back simultaneously. To alleviate Tech Hunch, prop computer on lap with pillows.
5. Invest in good seating: look for furniture that supports your back.

Dr. Bellingar adds: "Technology use can cause injury due to poor postures. This impacts quality of life; compounding throughout the day with aches and pains that won't disappear when you get home from work."

For interviews: contact Karen Kirchenbauer, (616) 776-3511, [email protected]

*CareerBuilder 2014 Cyber Monday survey

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151119/289522 

SOURCE Haworth

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