Ergonomics Efficiency and Safety in Motion

By Bernard L. Gladieux, Jr.
Overuse injuries, although they often seem quite straight forward, can be, in fact, quite complicated in that they are often caused by a combination of factors that vary widely from person to person. So, whether you are a weekend jogger and spend your work days at a desk or a bench [...]

Effective Injury Prevention-Think Holistically

Anyone who has worked as a manual therapist for any amount of time knows how physically demanding this kind of work can be. Manual therapists often use repetitive movements combined with hand force in their work; they may hold pressure or stay in one position for a long time, causing static loading to their tissues; fatigue may cause them to end up working in awkward postures that stress vulnerable parts of their bodies. Repetitive movements, hand force, static loading and awkward postures are all recognized risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The therapist’s age, general health, previous injuries and other personal physical and emotional factors are additional risk factors that can increase their injury risk. Given all of these risk factors, it is not surprising to learn that recent studies have shown a high rate of symptoms and MSDs among manual therapists as a result of their work. A 2006 study of massage therapists and bodyworkers showed that 77 percent had experienced pain or other musculoskeletal symptoms related to their work, and 41 percent were diagnosed with an MSD.1 High rates of symptoms and injury were also reported in other studies among PTs, PTAs, hand therapists and chiropractors.2, 3, 4, 5

Before you start thinking about putting your treatment table up for sale, it’s important to understand that injury is NOT inevitable. Many professions have inherent risks, and many people in these professions have successful, long-term, healthy careers. There is a great deal you can do to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place, and to minimize their effects if they do occur. The key to managing your risk of injury is to reduce your exposure to risk factors as much as possible. You can do this by modifying the risk factors you can change (like repetitive movement or awkward postures), and maintaining awareness of and developing coping strategies for those you can’t change (like your age or previous injuries).

Proven methods exist to lower the incidence of work-related injury. Many of them involve making simple but important changes to your activities, both at work and elsewhere; others will take more thought and practice to apply. But taking the necessary steps to prevent injury is much easier and less disruptive to your career than dealing with an injury once it has occurred.

Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and Migraines
The following article is an excerpt from “Trigger Point Therapy for Headaches and Migraines” by Valerie Delaune, LAc, reprinted with permission by New Harbinger Publications.
Trigger Points, Headaches, and Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
If you’re suffering from headaches, all too often you may be diagnosed with general terms such as tension headache, migraine, or TMJ pain [...]