Equipment Is NOT A Magical Solution!

Following on from my In Focus Blog last week about quick fixes, I want to discuss how ergonomic equipment is seen as a quick fix and dispel the myth that equipment is a magical solution. Don’t get me wrong ergonomic equipment plays a role in managing work related musculoskeletal pain, but it is only a component of a much bigger solution. For goodness sake, I am an Occupational Therapist we love equipment!

Often I see and hear of people purchasing standing desks, thinking they will be the cure for their aches and pains. In fact, earlier this week I came across this post from a friend on social media that went something like this: “I just bought this (image of standing desk)! With all the sitting I'm doing with my work, I can feel my back pain creeping up again. Hopefully this will help. Check it out if you're also having back pain.”

Even now days later, the thought of this post still makes me cringe. I can see the best of intentions here; there is no doubt about that. My concern is the belief people have that this equipment will solve all of their problems and take away their pain. It might help a bit, but if not implemented correctly it will likely cause more problems and make your pain worse, than all you will have done is spent big on something that only serves to aggravate your pain. And that is the last thing I want. The cost of pain is high enough.

Before making the decision to purchase big ticket items like sit-stand workstations or fancy chairs, there is a few things I want you to consider, these being your work behaviours and habits. Take a step back and have a good look at how you are working, especially if you already have issues of pain. Examine your work habits, how long you are sitting for, your posture, your activity levels during your workday, the frequency of breaks, what you are doing on breaks, task rotation, and positions adopted for particular tasks. Once all of these areas are addressed, changes made and behavioural shifts are occurring, than consider making such equipment purchases.

Once you have the equipment, what next? Knowing how to use it properly and make it work for you, so you get the benefits is vital and I am not just talking about assembly here. I will use the example of a sit-stand workstation to illustrate. One of the key things to remember with this particular piece of equipment is it provides opportunity to alternate your position (key word alternate). A sit-stand workstation doesn’t mean standing all day but yet people who make these purchases commonly attempt to go from being a full time sitter to full time stander. We have all heard about the health impacts of prolonged sitting, but standing all day can be just as problematic. Remember the best position for work is a combination of sitting, standing and walking, and these should be alternated throughout the workday. A sit-stand workstation gives you the perfect opportunity to be a poster boy or girl for this exact concept!

When using a sit-stand workstation remember to consider these points – what are you standing on, what are you wearing on your feet, how’s your posture, is the workstation set-up for you and your particular needs (in whichever position it is in), and finally introduce standing gradually. To put it simply, you cannot go from zero to hero and expect not to feel it! Initially you should introduce standing to your workday in smaller increments of time, and as tolerances build, you can increase time spent in standing (but never to all day).

In combination with your new workstation set-up, most importantly you should be continuing to apply the key elements of behavioural change, postural awareness and working smart for health strategies throughout your workday, no matter what position you are adopting for work because equipment alone is not a magical solution.

Here’s to your Work Health Wellness.

Cheers, Cath

P.S. Ready to change the way you work? Then you know we need to talk! Click here to get your FREE 20 minute consult.

P.P.S. Want to know what action you can take now to change your experience of pain while working? Get your FREE copy of the How to Manage Your Pain at Work Checklist, here.