What is the one thing that an IT professional should take utmost care of? Their backs. This applies to anyone who works long hours in front of computers. Repetitive Stress Syndrome strikes at the back and wrists (will cover wrists in another post) more than anywhere else. Another major problem is DVT (which a friend of mine is suffering from right now) but that again is reserved for another post.
The major implications of an injury to the back could be anything from missed work-days (and the salary), medical expenses (especially if a surgery is involved) and/or lingering pain that haunts you for life.
I recently had a muscle sprain while lifting some household items and it lead to a three days bed rest. It was really difficult for me to even stand straight, and the pain was excruciating. After three days, I could not stand it any longer and decided to join office. The pain took its time to go away, but even today, I feel some pain in the affected area once a day or so. This episode made me realize how important it is to keep good care of our body, especially our backs.
I have seen two of my colleagues in my previous company undergo
surgery for the treatment of slipped disc. Though excessive usage was
not the only reason for their medical condition, but it definitely was
an important one.
My current employer takes good care of its employees when it comes to good furniture. We all have the legendary Herman Miller Aeron chairs, perhaps the best thing that happened to chairs. These beauties provide good comfort and keep our backs in good shape. Though a good chair is not the only solution, its the best investment a company can do for its employees. I'm located in India and I guess I can count on my fingers the number of organizations that have Herman Miller chairs. There is no dealer for Herman Miller in India and all of these chairs have been imported from the US. At about USD 750 a piece, they don't come cheap.
Here are a couple of tips one could use to avoid problems with one's back
The major implications of an injury to the back could be anything from missed work-days (and the salary), medical expenses (especially if a surgery is involved) and/or lingering pain that haunts you for life.
I recently had a muscle sprain while lifting some household items and it lead to a three days bed rest. It was really difficult for me to even stand straight, and the pain was excruciating. After three days, I could not stand it any longer and decided to join office. The pain took its time to go away, but even today, I feel some pain in the affected area once a day or so. This episode made me realize how important it is to keep good care of our body, especially our backs.
I have seen two of my colleagues in my previous company undergo
surgery for the treatment of slipped disc. Though excessive usage was
not the only reason for their medical condition, but it definitely was
an important one.
My current employer takes good care of its employees when it comes to good furniture. We all have the legendary Herman Miller Aeron chairs, perhaps the best thing that happened to chairs. These beauties provide good comfort and keep our backs in good shape. Though a good chair is not the only solution, its the best investment a company can do for its employees. I'm located in India and I guess I can count on my fingers the number of organizations that have Herman Miller chairs. There is no dealer for Herman Miller in India and all of these chairs have been imported from the US. At about USD 750 a piece, they don't come cheap.
Here are a couple of tips one could use to avoid problems with one's back
- Use a docking station. If you cannot arrange for one (or afford one), go for an external keyboard and mouse. If you can afford it (in terms of space and/or money), get an external monitor also.
- Keep you monitor (either the external one or the laptop's monitor, or both) at a comfortable high position. The top of the monitor(s) should be at your eye level.
- The keyboard and the mouse should be on a flat, level surface. Both should be at the same level and close to each other. This limits the amount of stretching you would have to do to reach the mouse and back to keyboard.
- Take typing lessons. I'm serious!! When typing, if you look at the keyboard and not at the monitor, you are unnecessarily stressing your neck and your back. You can avoid a lot of it if you could type without having to look at your keyboad. You may either enlist for a training session somewhere nearby or just any good typing tutor software. Google them out.
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