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Ergonomics, posture and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders
Upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders (also called RSI, CANS) and back pain are common, particularly among office workers and musicians. Most of us know that our posture and behaviour are some of the factors that deserve attention.
However, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find out how to sit, stand, or lift properly. Most websites summarize in a few lines that you should straighten your back and keep your head upright, without explaining how, without illustrating what is correct vs. what is not, etc. In fact, the vast majority of them lack structure and logic: How can one pretend that "the upper bricks" of your body (e.g., the head) should be placed in this or that way, without first explaining how the foundations (e.g., the hips) should be laid?
As a result, typing "back posture" in Google gives thousands of results, none of which really shows you how to gain and keep a healthy posture.
This website aims at offering an original, logical, and structured approach. Based on anatomical considerations, certain common disorders will be described, it will be shown how they may be triggered by wrong postures, the features of a healthy posture will be defined following a step by step bottom-up approach, it will be explained how to change one's postural habits, and illustrated how to train (and how to relax) the relevant muscles. The practical section explains how, and when, one should assume a healthy posture.
Rehabilitation and diagnosis per internet are dangerous. Therefore, the scope of this website is purely prevention, although its content is relevant to anybody.
We would like to draw the attention of the reader to the two following points:
- Looking at pictures or videos without reading the text can be misleading, as we sometimes illustrate what should not be done;
- The positions are exaggerated on all the pictures and videos, so as to clearly show the difference between right and wrong postures. Generally speaking, remember that you cannot know what is right if you have not felt what is wrong.
Two information flyers are available online and can be distributed freely:
- One focuses on giving practical and concise advice on ergonomics computer work: PDF/HTML;
- The other one focuses on treatment strategies for patients with upper-limb disorders. It contains important but rarely explained facts about the role of the patient and the one of the therapist during the recovery phase: screen / print version. Every patient should have read it at least once.
Olivier Girard (Engineer - Ergonomist), Ans Samama (Mensendieck therapist)
